Benson Boone's Wanted Man Tour Comes to Spokane, WA
Benson Boone may have a dedicated fan base ready to scream every word, but his Wanted Man Tour stop in Spokane proved you don't necessarily need to know every song to have a good time.
On September 6, Boone brought his Wanted Man Tour to a packed Numerica Veterans Arena, joined by opener Luna Li. From the moment the crowd began filling the arena, the energy was hard to ignore. The audience was noticeably family-oriented, with parents and their children, teenagers and groups of young adults all coming together for the show. It was a diverse crowd, but everyone seemed to arrive with the same goal: have a good time.
And they certainly brought the energy!
Boone's music may not be exclusively targeted toward one age group, and neither was the audience. That ended up being one of the night's biggest strengths. Whether fans knew every word or were simply along for the experience, Boone put on a performance that made it easy for everyone in the building to get involved.
The atmosphere reflected that same variety. With no single album serving as the focus of the tour, the crowd's style was just as mixed as the setlist. Sparkly outfits shared the arena with more country-inspired looks, while Boone moved between newer material, songs from American Heart and older favorites. The result was an upbeat, energetic night that never felt tied to one specific aesthetic.
Between songs, Boone took plenty of time to interact with the audience. He asked questions, joked with the crowd and kept the show feeling personal despite the size of the arena. His enthusiasm for performing was obvious throughout the night, but perhaps even more so once the music was over. After the final songs, Boone took time to work his way around the crowd, signing items and interacting with fans before finally leaving the arena.
It was a small detail in the context of a large-scale pop production, but one that spoke to how much he seemed to appreciate the people who had come out to see him.
Musically, some of the night's biggest moments came from very different parts of Boone's catalog. “Young American Heart” was an especially fun highlight, building toward a burst of confetti that matched the song's already massive energy. With the crowd singing along and the arena fully locked into the moment, it was one of those songs that felt built for a live setting.
“The Time of My Life,” meanwhile, showed a different side of the performance. Boone introduced the song by saying it was one he would be singing with the most passion that night, and he followed through. More of a ballad than the show's biggest high-energy moments, the performance gave Boone the opportunity to really show off his vocal ability.
Of course, one of the loudest reactions of the night came before “Mystical Magical” had even properly begun. Boone briefly played with the crowd by suggesting he wasn't going to perform the song, a fake-out the audience clearly didn't believe for a second. Still, when the opening notes finally hit, the arena erupted.
The show didn't follow the traditional route of saving an encore for the end. Instead, Boone closed the night with his biggest hit, “Beautiful Things,” before adding one last memorable moment for the fans. After the song, he grabbed a Spider-Man mask, put it on and did a flip before leaving the stage. It was silly, unexpected and apparently something fans on the tour had come to anticipate, but that didn't make the Spokane crowd any less excited to see it happen.
If there was one downside to the night, it was simply the volume. The crowd was loud—sometimes overwhelmingly so. It's hard to call that a true complaint, though. The noise was a testament to how dedicated and excited Boone's fans were, and his energy only encouraged them to get louder. Just consider this a reminder to bring earplugs.
Numerica Veterans Arena has hosted its share of major acts, but it's especially exciting to see more contemporary pop artists bringing younger and more varied audiences into the space. On Sunday night, the arena became a place where families, teens and friends could all share the same experience.
If you're already a Benson Boone fan, this is an easy recommendation. But even if you only know a few songs (or you're tagging along with someone who does) the Wanted Man Tour is still worth experiencing. It's loud, energetic, a little over-the-top and, above all, a lot of fun.
For anyone looking to forget about everything else for a couple of hours, sing along when they can and simply enjoy a night of live music, Benson Boone delivers exactly that.
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