The House of Blues Boston was packed as The Pretty Reckless brought their Dear God tour to town.
The first performer of the night was Doug. They are a punk band from Portsmouth, NH.
The House of Blues Boston was already buzzing as fans packed in for The Pretty Reckless’ Dear God Tour, but New Hampshire rockers Doug, made sure the night started with plenty of attitude. Sharing the bill with Paris Jackson and The Pretty Reckless, the young four-piece delivered a short but energetic set that immediately grabbed the room’s attention.
From the opening moments, they leaned into a gritty combination of alternative rock, riff-driven melodies, post-punk influence, and heavier bursts of energy. The band’s sound felt raw and unpolished in the best possible way, giving the performance a sense of urgency that worked particularly well in the intimate confines of the House of Blues.
Their time onstage was brief, but they made the most of every minute. The band attacked the material with the kind of enthusiasm expected from an emerging act given an opportunity to perform in front of a large rock audience. There was also a clear sense that Doug, understood the importance of the moment—opening for an established rock act like The Pretty Reckless provided an ideal opportunity to introduce themselves to new listeners.
Doug has already received positive reactions from fans attending other dates on The Pretty Reckless tour, with listeners frequently pointing to the band’s energetic live presence.
By the time they left the stage, Doug had accomplished exactly what a strong opening act should: they made an impression and left the audience with another band to keep an eye on. Their House of Blues Boston appearance may have been a short set, but it was an effective introduction to a promising rock band.
For Doug, the night represented more than simply another date on the calendar. It was a chance to step onto a major Boston stage, play alongside some high-profile artists, and show a packed room that they belong in the conversation.
The next performer of the night was Paris Jackson. She is an American model, actress, and singer. The second child and daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, Jackson signed a deal with Republic Records in 2020. Her debut album, Wilted, was released that year.
Paris Jackson brought a soulful, introspective presence to the House of Blues Boston, opening an evening that would eventually erupt into the heavier sounds of The Pretty Reckless. As part of The Pretty Reckless’ Dear God Tour, Jackson took the stage with a stripped-down approach that allowed her voice and songwriting to remain at the center of the performance.
Opening with “maker,” Jackson immediately established a reflective mood. Her performance carried an understated confidence, with a vocal style that moved comfortably between delicate passages and more powerful moments. Rather than trying to overpower the room, she drew the audience in through the emotional character of her songs.
Jackson followed with “No Rain,” giving the crowd a familiar moment while putting her own interpretation on the Blind Melon classic. The choice fit naturally alongside her original material, highlighting the alternative and singer-songwriter influences running through her performance.
The set remained brief, but Jackson made effective use of the limited time. “happiest day of my life” provided another opportunity for her to showcase the personal quality of her songwriting and the emotional connection she brings to the stage.
Performing in the House of Blues offered Jackson an intimate environment that suited her music particularly well. The room allowed the audience to focus on the nuances of her voice and the quieter moments of the performance before the evening transitioned toward the bigger rock production still to come.
What stood out most was Jackson’s ability to establish an atmosphere without relying on spectacle. Her performance felt personal rather than overly produced, creating a clear contrast with the hard-driving rock that followed later in the evening.
For an artist appearing on a major rock tour, an opening slot can be a challenge: win over an audience that may have arrived primarily for another band while making enough of an impression to leave listeners curious about your own music. Jackson accomplished that through a performance centered on authenticity, strong vocals, and emotionally focused songwriting.
Paris Jackson’s Boston appearance may have been short, but it provided a memorable change of pace and introduced the crowd to a performer whose music occupies a more intimate space. By the time she left the stage, she had helped set the tone for an evening that would move through several different shades of alternative and rock music.
The last performer of the night was The Pretty Reckless. They are an American rock band from New York City, formed in 2009. The band consists of Taylor Momsen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ben Phillips (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Damon (bass), and Jamie Perkins (drums). In August 2010, the band released their debut studio album, Light Me Up. The album spawned three moderately successful singles, most notably “Make Me Wanna Die”. The band released the Hit Me Like a Man EP in early 2012. In March 2014, the band released their second studio album, Going to Hell, which included the singles “Heaven Knows” and “Messed Up World (F’d Up World)”, both of which topped the US and UK rock charts.
With Paris Jackson and Doug setting the stage earlier in the evening, the atmosphere was already charged when Taylor Momsen and company finally took the stage. What followed was a powerful, confident performance that showcased why The Pretty Reckless remain one of modern rock’s most compelling live acts.
The band wasted little time getting down to business, opening with “Death by Rock and Roll.” The explosive opener immediately filled the room with guitar-heavy rock, pounding drums and Momsen’s unmistakable vocals. “Since You’re Gone” and “Follow Me Down” kept the momentum moving, with the band settling comfortably into a groove that made the House of Blues feel considerably smaller than it actually is.
Momsen was a commanding presence throughout the performance. Her distinctive voice moved effortlessly between quieter, atmospheric passages and full-throttle rock moments, while her interaction with the audience helped create a connection that carried throughout the night.
The setlist balanced material from across the band’s catalog with songs from the new Dear God era. “Miss Nothing” and “For I Am Death” gave longtime fans plenty to celebrate, while “When I Wake Up” provided one of the evening’s opportunities to hear the newer material performed in a live setting. The band also delivered “Love Me,” “Dragonfire,” “Spell on You” and the title track “Dear God.”
One of the highlights was “Devil in Disguise (Michelle’s Song),” followed by the fan favorites “Make Me Wanna Die” and “Heaven Knows.” By this point, the crowd was fully engaged, singing along and responding to every major musical turn.
“Going to Hell” brought the main set to a dramatic close before the band returned for an encore featuring “About You.” The finale gave the audience one more chance to experience the chemistry between Momsen and the rest of the band before the night came to an end.
What made the performance particularly effective was its balance. The Pretty Reckless didn’t rely solely on nostalgia or their biggest hits. Instead, they presented a set that demonstrated how the band has continued to evolve while maintaining the gritty rock foundation that first attracted their audience.
The House of Blues proved to be an ideal setting for the show. Its intimate concert environment allowed the crowd to feel close to the stage while still providing enough room for the band’s sound to hit with considerable force.
By the end of the night, The Pretty Reckless had delivered a set filled with memorable songs, powerful vocals and plenty of rock-and-roll energy. Their Boston performance demonstrated that, more than a decade into their career, the band can still command a room with the same intensity that has defined them from the beginning.
The Pretty Reckless
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Paris Jackson
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