Perfume Genius
There was a palpable energy in the air at the Great American Music Hall’s sold-out show last night. A decade after the release of Too Bright, Perfume Genius—aka Mike Hadreas—returned to the stage with a show that was equal parts celebration and soul-baring confessional. For those of us who have followed Hadreas' journey since his earlier work, the night felt like a tribute not just to Too Bright, but to Hadreas' evolution as an artist and a person.
It’s not often that fans will get to hear an entire album in sequence, hearing each track live as they were meant to be experienced. That’s exactly what made this show special. The promise that Mike Hadreas would perform the album in its entirety—a rare opportunity to relive a project that, for many, felt like a turning point not only for Hadreas but for the way queerness and vulnerability were expressed in music.
He began the evening with “I Decline,” a stark, meditative track that set the tone for the night’s introspective mood. There were no theatrics—just Hadreas, bathed in dim light, his voice delicate but resolute, almost as if he were inviting us into a private moment. It was a quiet opening, but it held the room in rapt attention, easing us into the emotional intensity that would unfold over the course of the evening.
As the set moved through the album’s tracklist, each song seemed to take on new life. “Longpig” simmered with an uneasy energy, while “Grid” erupted into a chaotic, strobe-lit frenzy, capturing the album’s complex emotions in real time. It was incredible to watch Hadreas navigate the space between vulnerability and defiance—one moment fragile, the next filled with raw, unapologetic power.
Hadreas didn’t just play the songs; he lived inside them, delivering each lyric as though he were experiencing them again for the first time. His banter between songs was light and reflective, offering glimpses of the personal journey he’s been on since Too Bright was released. “I used to be really into this…Actually I still am,” he mused, smiling as if acknowledging the parts of him that have changed and what’s remained over the past decade.
As the show drew to a close with the somber, reflective “All Along,” it felt like we had all been on a transformative journey with Hadreas. But the night wasn’t quite over. For the encore, Perfume Genius treated the audience to a trio of bonus tracks from the 10th-anniversary edition of Too Bright, something special for the die-hard fans.
As the first strains for “Queen” began for the second time that night, the room surged with bittersweet excitement, knowing that this would be the end. The conclusion of such a cathartic night was one of those explosive moments that makes live music so special. Experiencing it live was like witnessing an anthem in real time. “No family is safe when I sashay,” both Hadreas and crowd sang, the line still as defiant and triumphant as it was a decade ago. But this time, there was something else in his delivery—an assuredness, a sense of ownership that made the performance feel even more powerful.
Perfume Genius didn’t just bring Too Bright back to life; he brought us into the heart of it, showing us how this performance was more than just a nostalgic look back. It was a celebration of growth and transformation, not just for Hadreas, but for all of us who’ve carried Too Bright with us over the last decade. Perfume Genius didn’t just revisit his past—he redefined it, reminding us that art, much like identity, is always evolving.