Sam Barber Sells Out Two Nights in Boston [Photos]

For the second of two back-to-back nights on the Seaport waterfront, country-folk artist Sam Barber returned to Leader Bank Pavilion on the “American Route Tour.” After openers Josiah and the Bonnevilles and Wild Horses warmed up the crowd, Barber took the stage at 8:55 pm and played until 10:35 pm, a set of about an hour and 40 minutes.

He opened with “Borrowed Time” and “Better Year,” and the setlist moved across his catalogue, drawing six songs each from Broken View and Restless Mind and four from the new Music for the Soul. The EP’s title track wrestles with fame, and “Same Sad Shit” addresses anxiety and depression. Both made the setlist, alongside “Man of the Year” and “Home Tonight.” Despite highlighting new music, the crowd knew every word.

The covers were among the night’s biggest surprises. Barber played Jonah Kagen’s “Burn Me,” Dani and Lizzy’s “Dancing in the Sky,” and The Lumineers’ “Ophelia,” bringing out Josiah and the Bonnevilles for the Lumineers cover. The covers received a warm welcome from the crowd.

Luisa Marion joined him twice: first for “Restless Mind,” then in the encore for “Indigo,” the duet that sits alongside “Straight and Narrow” and “Better Year” among his 2x platinum hits. Ending with “Indigo” was a fitting close to a show that truly emphasized songwriting and vocal talent. Sam Barber is only going to get bigger with time, and he’s deserving of every bit of acknowledgment he’ll get.