The Fans Are Showing Up The Band

Jun 28, 2023

—

Last Wednesday, the indie rock trio BoyGenius came to Toronto to perform for their biggest audience yet. While the band’s vocals were astounding as expected, it was the fans who put on their most heartwarming show of affection. Around halfway through the show, thousands of fans, or the Boys as I assume them to be, lifted their flashlights against a coordinated piece of coloured paper to reflect a rainbow onto the musicians during the most heart-felt song on the album, “Cool About It”.

I can’t lie, I was very confused at this moment. Sitting in the farthest section surrounded by boots and beer, I heard Lucy Dacus say in her concussed, dry tone, “I’m gonna not even ask questions” and immediately, I had a ton of questions. The first being, what’s going on? And how, did all of these people know to bring a tiny piece of construction paper to a Queer band’s concert? (Oh.) I had a strange feeling of deja vu, taking me back to my first year english class when the professor made a well received joke about how all English majors love communism and I googled communism.

Suffice to say, my friends and I did not get the rainbow memo, but that didn’t stop us from appreciating the beauty of it all. How, after some post-concert investigation, I learnt that it was not a stunt coordinated by the band’s management, but by one determined Canadian fan. Tiktok user @boygenius_tor spent weeks printing and cutting around 1600 pieces of paper, all for one fleeting moment of appreciation for the three musicians who inspired the entire queer community with The Record. I feel beyond lucky to witness and take part in that gratifying moment.

Before the colourful display of affection materialized, I had initiated a much smaller fan project of my own, but one that was completely unplanned. When I got to the Budweiser arena on June 21st, I looked around at all the Boys around me, smiling and giggling, taking photos and calling their lost friends, and I thought some part of this should be documented. Then the fashion girly in me surged forward and I began swooping my way through friend groups, complimenting each Boy, asking to take photos of the best outfits, the outfits I knew were carefully crafted, laid out on their beds days in advance, just like mine was.

Like myself, every person I took a photo of was showing their appreciation for an album and a band that made their hearts hurt with relief and relatability. Thank you to everyone who let me take your picture. It made my night.

I can’t wait to take inspiration from all the skeleton inspired, low waist moments, silver medallion belts, pearls, plaids, (the grammar in this is all wrong) crochet creations and all the ties I could ask for. You made an excellent mood-board. Most importantly, I hope you felt as beautiful and badass as you looked! Here’s to the Boys of Toronto!

Cue True Blue.