Charlie Puth turns MGM Music Hall into a masterclass in musicianship

Concert ratings

The Berkeley graduate blended jazz, pop and nostalgia on his “Whatever’s Clever!” world tour.

Charlie Puth in MGM Music Hall At Fenway, May 22, 2026.

Charlie Puth brought a mix of jazz and pop to the MGM Music Hall at Fenway on Friday night, keeping the audience dancing, swaying and waving their electric phone lights through nearly every song. But while his new album “Whatever’s Clever!” Giving the night its setting, it was often his older songs that elicited the loudest reactions from the audience.

Throughout the night, Puth made one thing clear that was undeniable: he’s one of the most naturally gifted musicians in pop music today.

He doesn’t just sing songs, he understands music at its core. Whether he’s playing pieces for an audience, improvising pieces on the piano, or juggling verses, every moment of the concert reflects an artist deeply connected to his craft.

Live, Puth’s vocals are on another level. Playing feels effortless, the control is nearly flawless, and the note separates him from many artists in mainstream pop music.

Puth incorporated several old songs into material from his album “Whatever’s Clever!” Which was released in March. The album also lends its name to his world tour, which will take in 22 countries before concluding in Australia later in mid-November.

Friday’s stop in Boston was especially meaningful for the singer-songwriter, who referred to the city as his “second home.”

The setting at MGM Music Hall matches the mood of the performance. Instead of relying on elaborate stage tricks or highly choreographed dance routines, Booth went for an abstract aesthetic that emphasized the music over the spectacle.

Animated visuals played softly across the screens behind him, while flashes of light matched the tempo and emotion of each song without overwhelming the performance. Instruments were scattered around the stage, smoke drifted through the venue, and the entire atmosphere carried the energy of a jazz club despite the large crowd.

Audience members embraced that aesthetic, too. Many arrived wearing ties, button-up shirts and pleated school skirts, a nod to Booth’s viral online character, “Professor Booth,” in which he explains music theory and production techniques on social media.

And “Professor Booth” made quite the appearance on Saturday night. Between songs, he discussed harmonies, notes, and songwriting with the kind of enthusiasm that only a true music geek can provide.

A Graduate of Berklee College of MusicThroughout the evening, Booth reminisced about his years as a student in the city, joking about local food spots and his memories of his college days. He specifically pointed to Little Steve’s Pizzeria, a Berkeley staple that is now permanently closed.

“There’s a lot of food in my memories. There’s a lot of food in my memories,” Booth told the audience, laughing.

“Boston, you’ve done so much for me,” Puth said during a performance of “Done For Me.”

At another point, Booth jokes that he was so close to Berkeley, he had to keep the group “lively.” This promise kicks off one of the show’s defining moments.

Much of the jazz influence came from the three backup singers who added incredible richness to the live arrangements. Not only were they there to support Puth, they were actively raising the profile of the music. Their multiple harmonies added warmth and depth to each song, especially during the slower or more emotional moments.

Several times throughout the night, the backup singers were given opportunities to step forward in their solos, displaying vocal talent impressive enough to command the stage themselves.

Openers set the tone

For an artist known for his artistic understanding of music, it made sense for Puth to choose equally talented musicians to open the show. Ally Salort and Daniel Seavey gave performances that prepared the audience for the night ahead.

Salort immediately captured the audience’s attention with her independent sound and powerful vocals. By just her fourth song, phone lights filled the venue, as the crowd settled into the dreamy atmosphere she created. Despite being newer to larger venues, Salort carried herself confidently on stage, balancing original songs with songs that connected strongly with the audience.

Seavey’s set became one of the biggest surprises of the night. Even before he sang a tune, he showed off his musical versatility by creating live loops on stage. Seavey picked up guitars, keyboards and percussion one by one, mashing the sounds together until he created an entire backing band himself.

At one point, Seify asked the audience to suggest a song for him to cover, even encouraging them to choose a song he might not know. Seavey then played Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drop Dead” and quickly put together a live loop arrangement — and the audience practically dropped, blown away by his vocal talents and ability to multitask effectively.

Puth brings nostalgia and renewal

Puth took the stage around 9 p.m., opening with “Beat Yourself Up,” a standout from “Whatever’s Clever!” The crowd immediately went along with the beat as phones shot into the air to capture the moment.

His second song, “How Long,” took the audience right back into 2017. The crowd sang almost every lyric louder than Puth himself, turning the venue into a massive karaoke session. By the time he performed the third song, “Washed Up,” nearly everyone in the audience was clapping and moving in rhythm with the band.

One of the most impressive aspects of his performance was Puth’s willingness to reinvent his songs live. He added riffs, modified melodies, and extended vocal tracks in ways that made each performance sound new.

During the quieter moments, especially during the piano performance of “Home,” the venue completely changed, as thousands of fans fell silent, allowing Puth’s singing and piano playing to become the sole focus.

Before performing “Cry,” Puth paused to reflect on emotional vulnerability and self-expression.

“It’s actually more interesting if you’re emotional and outwardly emotional — not just in your art, but as a person,” he said. “It makes you stronger as an individual, and I wrote this for someone in my life who really needed to hear that it’s okay to cry.”

Naturally, some of his highest moments came during his biggest successes. As soon as the opening notes of “We Don’t Talk Anymore” and “Attention” started, nearly everyone reached for their phones to record.

But perhaps the most emotionally impactful moment was during “One Call Away.” Previous parts of the set relied heavily on energetic beats and jazz-infused grooves, but this 2015 single introduced a softer wave of nostalgia throughout the venue. Backup singers transformed the arrangement with layered harmonies and delicate “oh” lyrics woven throughout the chorus, giving the familiar ballad a whole new texture.

This renewal highlighted Puth’s growth as an artist. Instead of recreating his old songs exactly as fans remember them, he reshaped them with more slick instrumentation and richer vocal arrangements, allowing his long-standing hits to evolve alongside him.

Puth closed out the evening with “Changes,” ending the concert on an upbeat note while continuing to showcase his musical complexity.

One of the funniest moments of the night arrived when Booth unexpectedly referenced Micaela Nogueira, a Boston-area influencer and makeup artist. Puth revealed that he watched one of her TikTok videos backstage before the show, where she mentioned attending the concert. When Nogueira introduced herself from the front row, Booth’s reaction was one of genuine surprise.

“Oh my God! You’re here,” he shouted.

The interaction elicited big laughs from the audience while making Puth seem refreshingly natural. Despite his musical brilliance, moments like this reminded the audience that he’s still someone who casually scrolls through TikTok before taking the stage.

Beyond the singing, humor and nostalgia, the strongest part of the concert was Puth’s genuine passion for the music itself.

“There are 12 notes on the scale, and an infinite number of songs to be written, and we haven’t even reached the threshold yet,” he said.

Throughout the night, he encouraged the young artists in the audience to keep creating.

At another point, he noticed a fan holding a sign saying they recorded a demo for him. Instead of ignoring it, Booth asked them to pass it to the front of the stage so he could listen to it later.

“Don’t get discouraged if there is someone in your life preventing you from making your art,” he said. “Don’t get mad at that person. Just keep doing what you have to do.”

Setlist for Charlie Puth at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, May 22, 2026:

• Get over yourself
• how long
• Washed
• Los Angeles girls
• Empty cups
• house
• He cries
• sick
• Sideways
• We don’t talk anymore
• child
• Done for me
• attention
• Cheating on you
• Love in exile
• One call away
• See you again
• Changes