Reneé Rapp in Boston – October 2, 2025
Reneé Rapp might be the president of the Boston hater club, but Boston Bites Back. Cheeky pop stars Reneé Rapp and Syd conquered TD Garden on the BITE ME TOUR on Thursday, October 2. Rapp’s signature vocal prowess and spectacle of a performance had jaws dropping left and right.
Syd
Singer-songwriter Syd kick-started the night with charm and flair. She sauntered onto the stage in beige cargo pants and a matching bomber jacket, opting for a relaxed fit that complemented her natural stage presence. She greeted Boston and dove into tracks like “GMFU,” boasting a mesmerizingly smooth and airy voice. Songs about love and complicated relationships especially resonated with two fans who were holding a sign that said they were exes. Syd spotted them in the crowd and gave them a shoutout, jokingly saying, “That’s real love.”
She paused to chat with the audience, sharing that her band members hailed from Boston, making this show extra meaningful. During sensual and serious tracks like “Body,” Syd infused an irresistible sense of humor, executing a flawless call-and-response. At the end of the song, when she sings “Ladies say yeah yeah yeah yeah,” she asked the women in the audience to sing along. She then gave the boys a chance to shine, singing the same part in a comical low voice. She commanded attention for the rest of her set, exuding a confidence fit for an arena.
Reneé Rapp
Fans were buzzing with excitement as they waited for Rapp to take the stage. The last time she performed in the city was at Boston Calling 2024, leaving fans itching for a full set. This tour is in support of her brazen second studio album BITE ME, which she released in August. Guests treated this concert like a runway, crowding around the barricade in creative outfits that matched the album’s aesthetic, such as crisp white shirts with kiss prints scattered across the collar, lacey red dresses, and bedazzled skirts. A luxurious red velvet curtain with “BITE ME” projected on it splayed across the stage, concealing the magical set behind it. Before the show, a recorded message from Rapp appeared on the screens where she shared her support for Save the Children, urging fans to donate to the cause as she has. Her activism and proclivity to speak up for what she believes in reminded fans why they fell in love with her in the first place. The lights dimmed and “God Is A Woman” blared in the speakers, a fitting welcome for this outspoken lesbian.
A faux interrogation skit began to roll on the screens. In it, Rapp was being questioned for an outburst she had at a meeting. In the meeting, she played all four characters: a label representative, an ex, a publicist, and herself. They kept talking over each other and demanding attention from Rapp, talking about her lack of media training, hounding her for the next single, and more. Rapp lunged across the table, yelling, “Leave me alone,” right as the sharp bassline to the lead single of the same name from BITE ME reverberated around the venue. The curtain dropped, and the singer stood in a spotlight on a circular platform suspended many feet in the air. Fans released thunderous cheers, immediately dancing to the catchy track. Rapp brought an indescribable energy from the moment she was lowered onto the stage, using expressive facial expressions, high kicks, and hair flips to hypnotize the crowd.
She sported an oversized blue t-shirt, ripped black tights, and a sparkly chainmail vest, mirroring her laid-back and glamorous personality. Hard-hitting singles like “Talk Too Much” and “Mad” were scattered around the beginning of the setlist, uniting the venue as everyone sang along. The performance of “Poison Poison” was a particularly cathartic experience for the venue, as Rapp has a tour tradition of holding the microphone out towards the crowd for them to scream the outro: “You’re the worst bitch on the Earth / I hate you and your guts / I think you should shut the fuck up and die / You get on my nerves / Fuck you, you dumb bitch / Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you.”
The star weaved energetic peaks with emotional valleys as she transitioned to sitting on top of a grand piano about midway through the set. She sang songs like “That’s So Funny” acoustically as fans waved their flashlights to the swelling instrumental, creating a starry night sky. Rapp blew kisses to the crowd, flashing an excited smile when she shared that the next song wasn’t usually on the setlist. The opening chords to “I Hate Boston” began to play, a track dedicated to an old relationship that had scarred her feelings about the city. Here, she showcased her Broadway background, effortlessly belting out high notes with raw passion. “Damn, I love this bridge. We can’t come here and not play that,” Rapp revealed, making Boston feel extra special.
She escaped behind the curtain as her band shredded on the guitar, building anticipation for the next act of the show. The sultry first notes of “Good Girl” played her on, revealing Rapp back on the raised platform, but this time under a gargantuan gold chandelier set piece covered in red and pink bras. Saucy Brittany Spears-esque choreography kept Boston glued to the stage. Her dedication to making every seat the best one in the house was evident during “Swim,” where she went “swimming” through the crowd while holding a camera with a selfie light that showed her singing with fans on the big screen. After sprinting and dancing all across the venue, Rapp executed flawless runs on tracks like “Tummy Hurts,” a testament to her stamina and status as a bona fide vocal powerhouse.
Rapp has an impeccable ability to make each moment feel like a sleepover with a best friend, sitting at the edge of the catwalk to sing with the barricade. Her flirtatious side came through as she complimented fans, saying, “You are so cute and your smile is so infectious. Lord, have mercy!” Enough praise to make anyone blush. The humorous fan-made signs carried into Rapp’s set, with the singer laughing mid-song after noticing a hilarious sign with an alternate name for TD Garden, “Titty Garden.” The star held the energy high the rest of the set, ending the night with the empowering track “At Least I’m Hot.” Her final song left everyone feeling like their best, most confident selves, and that’s the Reneé Rapp effect. The rebel energy, elaborate and thoughtful set, rowdy skits, and charged energy transformed TD Garden into one big party where everyone could let loose. Make sure to catch Rapp and Syd live before the BITE ME TOUR ends in March. Buy tickets here.
