Review: Caamp @ MGM Music Hall 6/14

Photo Credit: CJ Harvey

Review by Sophia Blair

Caamp took the stage at MGM Music Hall on Saturday night, June 14, 2025, to a completely packed house. The Ohio-based folk band — Taylor Meier, Evan Westfall, Matt Vinson, and Joe Kavalec — brought a grounded, heartfelt energy that matched the lightness of a summer night in Boston. This was my second time seeing them live; the first was a few years back in Santa Barbara before I moved to Boston. Experiencing them now, in a different city and chapter of life, made the show feel especially meaningful.

They opened with “Millions,” and the crowd immediately locked in, cheering and dancing. From there, the band moved seamlessly between old favorites and newer songs, shifting the tempo and tone without ever losing momentum. Classics like “Vagabond,” “Let Things Go,” and “So Long, Honey” set an excited tone early on, and “There She Goes” and “26” continued bringing the energy. People were dancing all around the floor, swaying, spinning, moving with joy to the warmth of the music.

Slower, more tender tracks like “Snowshoes” and “Lavender Girl” followed, softening the room. “Apple Tree Blues,” “No Sleep,” and “Peach Fuzz” added some grit and groove, keeping things playful but steady. “Ohio’s Ugly” and “See the World” felt expansive and full, filling the venue with a rich, nostalgic tone.

Caamp doesn’t interact much with the crowd during their sets. They don’t need to. Their presence holds a kind of quiet confidence, and their music carries the weight of what they might otherwise say. But when Taylor did take a moment to speak, he acknowledged that there’s a lot going on in the world right now and shared that the band stands for what’s right. He encouraged us to keep spreading the goodness that was pulsing through that room out into the world however we can. Then he stayed on stage alone for a solo acoustic moment, performing “Shade Fair” with just his voice and guitar under the red lights.

After that, the rest of the band returned and joined him at the front of the stage. They sat down for a stripped-back portion of the set that felt honest and intentional. “Wolf Song,” “Somewhere (Out of Time),” and “Mistakes” stood out here. The room felt still, but not sleepy… just content to sit in the sound. Then came “Walkin’” and “Goin’ to the Country,” which brought back a sense of movement, followed by a surprise cover of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” It was soulful and simple, and the crowd swayed along without missing a word.

By the time they launched into “By & By,” the energy was at its peak. That song was one of the first Caamp tracks I ever fell in love with, so hearing it live again felt full circle. It brought me back to who I was in Santa Barbara when I first found their music, and I noticed I was wearing the same poorly knit lavender sweater I had worn to their “Lavender Days” tour. 

For the encore, they returned with “All the Debts I Owe.” It’s another classic that’s stayed in rotation for me over the years. Every voice in the crowd joined together, clinging onto each lyric like we didn’t want the night to end, before erupting into cheers.

Seeing a band I love perform songs that are part of my daily life will always leave me floored. Caamp creates music that makes people feel more alive, and the people in the crowd reflected that. Their new album, Copper Changes Color, just dropped on June 6. Give it a listen if you haven’t already.