Royel Otis @ MGM Music Hall 10/10

Photography by Annabel Friedman

Review by Annabel Friedman

Last Friday night, the indie rock duo Royel Otis left a royal mark on Boston at MGM Music Hall at Fenway. On tour for their sophomore album, “Hickey,” best friends Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic attracted an all-ages crowd to Fenway. With their second album release this summer, the band has almost broken from their notoriety as “those guys with that cover of  The Cranberries song,‘Linger,’” and proven their own music to be worth listening to.

As one of my favorite bands of today, I went in with high expectations, which, off the bat, were not fully met with the opener. Bby, a five-piece band from London, seemingly lacked coherence as a group. The crowd was not quite into it, but I appreciated their enthusiastic presence on and off stage, as the lead singer, Benjy Gibson, often jumped off the stage to interact with the crowd.
Once Royel Otis took the stage, the venue lit up pink and grey, the trademark colors from their sophomore album, “Hickey.” The duo opened the show with “i hate this tune,” the album’s opening track. The guitarist, Royel Maddell, brought the energy with a jump onto the stage and a captivating riff.

The band then went on to play two tracks from their debut album, “Adored” and “Heading for the Door,” which were accompanied by graphics from their respective music videos on screen. The duo isn’t exactly known for their dynamic stage presence, often maintaining a calm, humble demeanor that lets the crowd do the work. For some bands, this could come off as stuck-up or shy, but their chillness perfectly encapsulates the vibe of their music. Maddell rarely showed his face on stage and kept his face covered by his hair, matching the music well.

Halfway through the show, the band left the stage, and I couldn’t help but assume that we were getting fake-encored way too early. But I was pleasantly surprised by the band taking refuge at the makeshift B-stage at the back of the venue. With the band now right in the pit, the crowd brought out their flashlights and swayed as they performed an acoustic cover of “Linger” by the Cranberries and the ultimate track of their latest album, “Jazz Burger.” Just as everyone expected this to be the end of the B-stage excitement, the band brought a couple from the audience on stage for a surprise proposal.

Although they didn’t interact as much with the crowd as the opener, the audience didn’t seem to mind; everyone danced along to every song. After years of MGM concerts that never quite sat right with me, Royel Otis has officially converted me to an MGM fan. The venue was perfect for the band, allowing for an array of fans to jump around or remain in their seats.

The set flew by with quiet efficiency, and the vibes were kept up by little crowd interaction or prolonged breaks. The visuals kept me thoroughly entertained, and the band used its signature, straightforward cues to let the crowd know what each song was about.

For the encore, the duo returned in custom Red Sox jerseys to the crowd’s delight. They performed their most popular single, “Oysters in my Pocket,” ending the show with a nostalgic bang.
As a longtime fan of Royel Otis since their first releases in 2021, I’m proud to say that this tour has them coming out of their shells and expressing their music and personalities authentically on stage.

I am happy to see more people appreciating their live music, and for most of the show, it felt like there wasn’t a phone in sight as the fans just enjoyed the show together. I thought it would take years for me to forgive MGM for its obstructed-view GA levels and cramped floor, but Royel Otis put on such a show that I couldn’t help but forget my qualms with the venue.