Benjamin Ingrosso - TLA – Philadelphia (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)

Benjamin Ingrosso

Benjamin Ingrosso - Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA – February 15, 2025

I walked into the Theatre of Living Arts on Saturday night to one of the smaller crowds I have seen in Philly for an artist I had not heard of before (aside from the research I had done on him that day). Benjamin Ingrosso, a Swedish superstar, composer, and singer, has taken Europe by storm and is now making his way through North America.

To my luck, Philadelphia doesn’t seem to know much about him yet, so I got to experience this miraculous star in a very intimate setting with my arms up against the barricades, inches away from Benjamin. Not to be dramatic, but the Pink Velvet Theatre show on Saturday night felt like a private performance from a twenty-first-century Queen. Ingrosso was one of the most charismatic and confident performers I have had the privilege of seeing live. 

Philadelphia was the fifth stop on his brief seven-stop North American leg of the Pink Velvet Theatre tour, promoting an album that was released in October of 2024. Ingrosso was backed by a full band – guitar, bass, drums, keys – with him on vocals and piano. The entire band contributed to backing vocals, adding depth and richness to the very impressive live arrangements. 

I was initially expecting a pop performance, but what I got was rock – 70’s inspired, full band, electric rock and roll. Many of Ingrosso’s tunes reminded me of Queen and Elton John – the way he writes his music and plays piano, how he starts many songs as ballads before the full band comes in. After a deep dive on his TikTok, I found a recent video where Benjamin highlighted growing up listening to both of those artists, which made so much sense to me. He also wears a lot of glamorous 70’s inspired outfits at his shows as well, I noticed while scrubbing through his socials. Saturday’s concert was full of power ballads, dramatic key changes, and anthemic moments.

The 70s glam rock inspiration was clear. I was hoping to see one of his more extravagant outfits, like the suits and jumpsuits I’ve seen on TikTok and Instagram, but it seems they kept things low-key for the small venue. Everyone in the band was dressed very casually. But there was nothing casual about the music and the performance. Full-on arena rock. Every song felt like an anthem, and there was power ballad after power ballad, each dramatic, moving, and growing in energy as it went on. The melodies and lyrics were instantly memorable, sticking in my head for days.

The crowd at the TLA was small – maybe 250 people total – but the energy was electric. Everyone was smiling, jumping, dancing, and singing. I felt like I was in a movie, making friends with two sweet guys behind me, as we giggled and blushed every time Benjamin came over and flirtatiously sang to us. I danced like I was the mysterious girl in the front row of a concert scene, carefree and lost in the music. The room felt safe, warm, and lovely, and the tunes made everyone feel so alive. I was also very moved to hear that many audience members had travelled from Europe and followed him across the North American tour. It further proves that he has a widespread and loyal audience in Europe that is slowly beginning to globalize. 

So who is this performer I keep comparing to world-renowned rock prodigies? Ingrosso is a 27-year-old Swedish singer-songwriter specializing in pop and electro-pop. A born star, he has been performing since childhood, appearing in musical theatre, singing and dance competitions. He gained widespread recognition after winning Lilla Melodifestivalen in 2018 and representing Sweden in Eurovision, where he made it to the finals. He returned to Eurovision years later as a headliner in 2024, with a huge arena performance of his original music. I would recommend watching that performance, it’s pretty impressive.

In 2024, he embarked on his sold-out European “Better Days” Tour featuring many songs from Pink Velvet Theatre, some of which were unreleased at the time. Ingrosso now has over four million monthly Spotify listeners and has released five studio albums since 2018. He has a massive social media following, as well as endless live performance and music video content, like his most recent sci-fi music video for “Back to You.” 

There were a ton of highlights that struck me throughout the show on Saturday night. The first heavy hitter was “All My Life - And Then…,” a song I had only listened to once before the show, yet I immediately recognized the catchy tune. The entire audience sang along during the bridge, which seemed to genuinely excite Benjamin. His charisma was undeniable – flirty, engaging, and full of boundless energy. His jumps reached incredible heights, highlighting his dance background, athleticism, and performance excellence.

Other standout moments included “Look Who’s Laughing Now,” which gave me early 2000s Disney breakup song vibes (in the best way possible – think Lemonade Mouth or Jonas Brothers). “Angela” was a personal favorite; Ingrosso sat at the piano and slammed hard on those keys, evoking the stage presence of Elton John or Billy Joel.

For the song “Only For You” (which I believe is an unreleased single), he stripped it down to an a cappella beginning, with electric keys creating a choir-like ambiance. It was somber, beautiful, and had the crowd (me included) in tears. Then came “I Know I Know,” an indie-leaning, upbeat song that brought the mood back up post-crying.

One of the most raw and vulnerable moments was “Roses in the Desert,” an unreleased track. Ingrosso opened up about his music, sharing that most of his songs, even the upbeat ones, are sad. He explained how past relationships influenced his music, revealing that his previous two albums were about an ex, but this new album wasn’t. He warned us that he might cry while singing “Roses in the Desert,” as he often gets choked up performing it. His vocal clarity was unreal – it sounded like it was auto-tuned, yet it was live. You could hear his technical theatre training in every note.

Other notable performances included “Worst in Me,” which felt like a theatrical, early 2010s pop hit with a dramatic key change. “Crazy Stupid Love,” another unreleased track, was pure Freddie Mercury energy – starting soft on piano before exploding with the full band.

Ingrosso closed out the night with “Honey Boy,” his viral TikTok hit. In a thrilling moment, he left the stage (brushing past me) and came into the crowd, dancing with fans as everyone sang along. It was a euphoric way to end the night. Everyone was so excited. To my disappointment, there was no encore. The band took a bow and exited, leaving me and the audience wanting more. I was surprised, especially because there was no opener, so the concert was only a little over an hour in total. 

Benjamin Ingrosso delivered an unforgettable performance. His ability to command the stage with charisma, musicianship, and energy was astonishing. He took us on a journey – through rock, pop, ballads, and pure theatrical moments – leaving a lasting impression on everyone lucky enough to be there. He really had me drawn in for the entirety of the performance, I almost forgot to take notes. While the venue may have been small, the concert was nothing short of stadium-worthy. I would travel far to see him perform again. It is well worth it.

Brenna Hallman

Copyright ©2025 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: February 17, 2025.

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