Benson Boone / Olivia O’Brien @ MVP Arena, 7/16/2026

By Joshua Scarselli.

Benson Boone brought his Wanted Man tour to the MVP Arena in Albany on Thursday. People showed up, proving Benson Boone is a wanted man. The place was packed, mostly with a middle school-aged crowd and their parents. I did find a few other adults without kids enjoying the show.

Starting off the night was Olivia O’Brien. This was a special night as her newest album dropped at midnight. Olivia got the crowd started with some easy listening. Mostly songs off of her new album, which she described as “sad”. The crowd was definitely into it. By the end of her set, they were ready for the main event, Benson Boone.

Benson Boone started promptly at 9 pm. That was great because I am old and had to work in the morning. He sang about 20 songs. Starting off with some fab favorites like “Mr. Electric Blue” really got the crowd going. It was kind of refreshing to not have to wait to hear some of the songs I have become familiar with. Usually I am used to hearing some of the newer stuff first and having to wait for the classics.

The show itself was really on point. The stage and effects were not overwhelming. The set was elegant enough to add to the performance without taking away from it. There are some lights and pyrotechnics, but they aren’t the main part of the show.

Benson Boone did a great job keeping the pacing going. There are tons of high-energy moments, and he never misses a beat. There is dancing, flipping, and of course singing, all at the same time. He engages with the audience and really just seems happy to be there doing his thing.

The Wanted Man Tour definitely shows just how wanted Benson Boone is. It was tons of fun in a family-friendly way. If you have a chance to make any of his other shows, it will definitely be worth it.

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