FINNEAS’ Detroit stop on the 'For Cryin’ Out Loud! Tour' at The Fillmore on February 25th was an intimate, immersive jam session that showcased not only the ten-time Grammy-winning and two-time Oscar-winning, singer, songwriter and producer’s talent, but also the undeniable chemistry of his band. The show felt less like a polished pop performance and more like stepping into a recording session with a group of musicians who genuinely love playing together.
The band, featuring Ricky Gourmet, David Marinelli, Aaron Forbes, Lucy Healy, and Miles Morris, set the tone for the night, each member contributing to a memorably precise performance. It’s rare to see a tour with an individual artist that incorporated the same members responsible for recording the record they are touring, resulting in an elevated, accurate rendition of the project, “For Cryin’ Out Loud!”, released in October of 2024. Morris, pulling a double, back-to-back set as the drummer for both Finneas O’Connell and the opening act, Bad Suns, was particularly impressive, showing no signs of fatigue as he powered through the show. The artist has mentioned that Bad Suns was one of his favourite bands as a teenager, making their inclusion on this tour all the more special.
Opening with Starfucker, O’Connell immediately commanded the stage, drawing the audience into his deeply personal and poetic lyricism. He took a moment to shout out the Detroit crowd, expressing gratitude for their energy and recalling his day exploring the city and meeting fans. He took it a step further to mention how band members were discussing how great the audience was on their private radio channel. His ability to connect with the audience was evident throughout the night, accepting fan gifts—including a stuffed doll of himself and a hat from the pit, and shouting out his manager, Brandon Goodman, a Detroit native, who’s been co-managing FINNEAS and Billie Eilish since the beginning of their careers.
The Fillmore is a historic venue in Detroit, celebrating 100 years this year, with stunning architecture that provided the perfect atmosphere for this show. Its intricate chandeliers paired with the multiple Renaissance Revival-style balconies covered in Terracotta complemented the powerful yet stripped-back production at the 3,000-capacity venue. The venue’s acoustics enhanced the vocals on each track on an already impressive performance. One of the most visually striking moments came during The Kids Are All Dying, where the lighting shifted from an optimistic green to an intense, flashing red as Finneas sang about political corruption, school shootings, and societal complacency. It’s evident that much thought was put into the creative of this tour, increasing the impact of FINNEAS’ set.
Throughout the 90-minute headlining performance, the setlist was a well-balanced mix of For Cryin’ Out Loud! tracks and older fan favourites. Till Forever Falls Apart was a particular highlight, with Lucy Healy’s ethereal background vocals seamlessly filling in for Ashe’s part. The crowd was also rewarded with a cover of The Zombies' Time of the Season, a track O’Connell and his band first performed for Triple J’s Like a Version segment in Australia earlier this year.
What stood out most about this show wasn’t just Finneas O’Connell’s undeniable talent as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, but his ability to create a space where every member of his band had their moment to shine. Ricky Gourmet had a guitar solo, paired with a shoutout, during “2001”, with Aaron Forbes shredding with Gourmet throughout the show. Marinelli also performed most of the set in a grey hoodie with the hood up, resulting in O’Connell calling him out as “Slim Shady”, fitting in Eminem’s hometown. This led to Marinelli jokingly flipping off the crowd throughout the remainder of the set in response.
While Canadian fans were hoping for a stop north of the border, those in attendance at The Fillmore Detroit witnessed a masterclass in live performance. As quoted by O’Connell in an interview conducted by his sister leading up to the release of “For Cryin’ Out Loud!”, the artist mentioned he sometimes does not believe he has his own fanbase, feeling like an “expansion pack” to his sister’s global stardom. However, this tour proves—without a doubt—that his solo artistry deserves just as much recognition.
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