The air outside Fenway smelled like hot dogs, victory, and early summer. The Red Sox were on their way to beating the Yankees, and across the street at MGM Music Hall, the Ohio-born folk band CAAMP took the stage for the first night of their two-show stint in Boston. Men in flannels, wide-brimmed hats, and worn in converse or vans had curated their graphic t shirts with crafty precision to signal a sliver of their self. A crowd of all ages, friends, couples, and radio DJ’s sang along to a setlist that drew from their wide ranging catalogue. 

The crowd sang just as loud to their mainstream hits as they did deep cuts. CAAMP's signature wistful and quietly romantic songwriting showcased in hits like “26” almost certainly inspired a few to use “Wanna move out to Alaska?” as a pick up line for the rest of the night. The shimmering chords, yips and yawps of “See the World” perfectly capturing the band’s earnest, homespun ethos. 

The night’s most intimate moment came when banjo player Evan Westfall took center stage for “There She Goes,” a vinyl-exclusive track from their debut self-titled album, rarely played and largely unknown to anyone who’s never flipped a record over or searched the web for bootlegs. The band unexpectedly covered Empire of the Sun’s synth-pop psychedelic song “Walking on a Dream” with bassist Matt Vinson on vocals in a boisterous rendition that got everyone dancing. 

For their encore, CAAMP returned to the stage to play “All the Debts I Owe.” While they have typically been closing the tour with a rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” transitioning into “By and By,” the performance was missing from Saturday’s show. Maybe it was the curfew—or maybe they’re saving it for the fans returning Sunday night.

Between songs, frontman Taylor Meier offered little monologue, letting the music speak for itself and effortlessly conjuring a the feeling of playing music around a campfire in a 5,000-person venue. CAAMP first played in Boston at The Sinclair in 2018 and have steadily climbed the city’s venue ladder since—selling out Royale, House of Blues, and most recently, Leader Bank Pavilion in 2022. Fans are eager for their return, and hope to see the band’s success place them even larger venues, where they are sure to maintain their welcoming atmosphere. In the New England beacon for fervent folk fans, CAAMP's blend of earnest songwriting and warm stage presence made their MGM Music Hall debut feel like a summer camp song circle. 

Carly Brail '26 is a staff writer for Hillbilly Jamboree and the Blues Hangover.