Jamie Miller Shows Pop’s Not Dead
Jamie Miller performs at Boston’s Big Night Live supporting Jesse McCartney
words and photos by Molly McCaul ‘23
Tucked away between the TD Garden and Boston’s North Station, the line at Big Night Live wrapped around the corner on the evening of May 16, leaving hundreds of fans with a prime view of Boston’s Zakim Bridge. The crowd, palpably high-energy despite it being a drizzly Monday, were gearing up for a night of music from rising star Jamie Miller and long-time fan favorite Jesse McCartney.
As the crowd trickled into the music hall, it became abundantly clear that the venue is in the business of entertainment—between the VIP box seats complete with cushy u-shaped sofas, large chandeliers, and impressively stocked bars, it was hard not to feel out-of-place as a college student in a t-shirt.
But once the clock hit 8 and the house lights went out, all worries disappeared as British singer-songwriter Jamie Miller took the stage accompanied only by bandmate Heather, who stood dutifully by a keyboard synth as Miller sat at a stool. The opening notes hit the speakers, and Miller was off and running on what would prove to be a successful half-hour set.
Miller has yet to release a full-length album, with his 6-song EP Broken Memories dropping just this year, but he seems to have the formula for feel-good pop earworms all figured out. It’s hard as an opener to get an audience to pay attention, much less be engaged with your performance, but this crowd quickly caught on to Miller’s catchy hooks and was singing along in no time.
It’s easy to see why Miller was chosen to open for a longtime pop act like McCartney; from his look to his stage presence to his sound, Miller has taken nostalgia for 2000’s pop and turned it into something radio-ready and fresh in 2022. Miller was also wildly personable, talking about the inspirations for various tracks and his experience in London writing and recording with his team.
Highlights of the set included “Last Call,” whose chorus had the whole room singing along, and a cover of an Imagine Dragons hit. There was also an extended guitar solo performed by Miller’s incredibly skilled bandmate, Heather, in one of the more memorable moments of the evening.
Soon enough, it was time for Miller to break out his biggest hit, “Here’s Your Perfect,” which has amassed over 200 million listens on Spotify alone. Before beginning the song, Miller talked about its genesis, how he wrote the song and was told it “wasn’t it” before releasing it on TikTok to instant success. The story was a teaching opportunity for Miller, who then encouraged the audience to do the work they believe in despite the naysayers.
We undoubtedly will be seeing more from Miller in 2022 and beyond as he continues touring with McCartney and (hopefully) embarks on tours of his own; you may just catch yourself humming songs like “Last Call” in the not-so-distant future. While not particularly groundbreaking or avant-garde, Jamie Miller’s performance in Boston was a genuinely fun and engaging show—and as far as opening acts go, Miller went above and beyond the usual fare. In the hands of acts like Miller, modern pop music is shaping up to be not only viable, but thriving.
