Review: Benson Boone Proves He's More Than Just the Guy Who Does Flips at Barclays Center

There are two things everyone seems to know about Benson Boone before seeing him live: he has an incredible voice, and he does flips. After spending a night at Barclays Center for the New York stop of the Wanted Man Tour, one of those facts still stands out, but it's no longer the one that matters most.

Benson Boone, or as I like to call him, Benny Boonicus, played a sold out show at Barclays Center on July 10, 2026 (and July 11, but I wasn't there so we're not talking about that). I've been a fan since his second single "ROOM FOR 2" dropped back in 2022, however this was my first true experience seeing him live. I'd previously caught him at the VMAs and GovBall, but neither compared to seeing one of his own headline shows.

Benson is the kind of artist where you hear his name and immediately have an opinion. You either absolutely LOVE him or you absolutely HATE him - there's really no in-between. After finally experiencing him live attending the Wanted Man Tour, I'm even more confused by the people in the second category. His music is incredible and his stage presence is even better.

For the East Coast dates, Benson brought along one of my all-time favorite artists, Olivia O'Brien, and I don't think I could've asked for a better opener. I was ecstatic to hear the news I was going to be attending this show (with a side of immense imposter syndrome). I've been listening to Olivia since her SoundCloud days back in 2016, before "i hate u, i love u" with gnash launched her into the Spotify Billions Club. A decade later, she's preparing to release her sophomore album next week, PIXIE, a complete 180 from the music that first introduced so many people to her. 4/15 songs are already out, and fans could even purchase the CD or vinyl at the merch stand to hear the album early (yes, I bought the vinyl). 

For longtime fans, her set felt like the beginning of a new era. She opened her set with a run of unreleased tracks from PIXIE: "Dream Girl," "I Always Say I'm Leaving," and "Written By A Man." After performing "blip" from her 2024 EP love & limerence, she returned to the new record with "Icarus" and "The Masochist." She closed with fan favorites "hate u, love u" - her solo version of the Billboard charting hit - and the TikTok era anthem "Josslyn."

Just minutes after finishing her set, Olivia spotted me wearing the hoodie from her 2023 single "Born with a Broken Heart" (which I am still waiting to hear live). The front reads "I'm not sad," while the back says, "I just haven't been happy." She immediately ran over to say hi and take a photo with me. Apparently, it stuck with her too, because she later talked about the interaction on her spam TikTok account and posted a photo of us on her main Instagram.

I'm incredibly grateful Benson brought her on tour. This was my first time seeing Olivia since 2024. After attending her debut Los Angeles headline show in 2017, it felt incredibly special to now be there for her first New York City arena performance.

Now, back to Benny Boonicus. With the arena finally full and anticipation building, Benson emerged to deafening screams as "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else" kicked off the evening.

Over the course of 20 songs, Benson delivered exactly what fans have come to expect: powerful vocals, a captivating stage presence, a shirtless display of abs, and enough flips to make every gymnastics coach in attendance nervous. As this is a continuation of his previous tour, his setlist balanced newer material from American Heart with the songs that first catapulted him into mainstream success. From the very first song, it was obvious this wasn't a performance built around elaborate staging or flashy production. The show revolved around Benson himself. A grand piano, a runway stretching into the crowd branded "BB" with pit cased within, and a performer capable of commanding an arena.

He opened with "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else" before moving through fan favorites like "Mr Electric Blue," "There She Goes," and "Wanted Man," where flip number one finally made its appearance. The momentum never slowed, carrying through "Drunk in My Mind," "Slow It Down," "Mystical Magical" (better known as moonbeam ice cream), "Pretty Slowly," "In the Stars" (my personal favorite), "My Greatest Fear," and "Take Me Home."

The second flip arrived during "Young American Heart," followed by emotional performances of "Momma Song" and "Before You." I genuinely never thought I'd get to hear "Before You" live since it's such an oldie, so I'm incredibly grateful Benson brought it back after fans spent months asking for its return. Moments like these reminded everyone that beneath the flips and arena-sized production is an artist whose greatest strength is simply his voice.

Regardless of the haters, Benson's voice remains one of the strongest in modern pop. Whether belting the chorus of "In the Stars" souring through the crowd on a star, delivering the vulnerability of "Momma Song," or closing the night with the finale of "Beautiful Things," he never sounded like he was chasing the studio recordings. If anything, the live versions carried even more emotion.

And of course, the flips made their appearance. My official flip count for the night ended at six. I'll admit, I was mildly disappointed. I was hoping for double digits.

Fans have come to expect flips during songs like "Wanted Man," "Young American Heart," "Cry," and "Beautiful Things," and this show was no exception. They've become another extension of Benson's personality onstage.

The setlist balanced nearly every side of Benson's catalog. Newer songs like "Mr Electric Blue," "Mystical Magical," and "Pretty Slowly" fit seamlessly alongside established favorites such as "Slow It Down," "Before You," and "Beautiful Things." Rather than feeling divided between old and new material, the show proved just how quickly Benson's recent releases have become fan favorites.

One of the most impressive parts of the night wasn't his vocals or flips, it was his connection with the audience. Between songs, Benson joked with fans, accepted gifts from the crowd (and even put them on mid performance), and somehow made an arena of nearly 20,000 people feel intimate. That authenticity is difficult to manufacture, and it's a major reason his fanbase continues to grow at such an incredible pace.

While the flips have become synonymous with Benson Boone, they aren't what make his concerts memorable (well, not the only thing). They're simply the exclamation point. The real highlight is his ability to command an arena effortlessly while making every song feel personal, whether it's an emotional ballad or a radio anthem.

Walking into Barclays Center, I expected a great concert. Walking out, I understood why Benson Boone has become one of the biggest pop stars in the world.

(But seriously... only six flips?)

Written by Jackie Spitz