OK Go: Confetti, confetti, and some more confetti
This concert was shot for The Concert Chronicles. You can find the original article here.
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be inside a snow globe during a technicolor blizzard, OK Go’s show at The Royale last night had your answer: pure, euphoric chaos. The Chicago-born band, known as much for their viral music videos as their genre-bending alt-pop, transformed the downtown Boston venue into a sensory playground of confetti, crowd banter, and joyful absurdity.
Opening the night were LA Exes, a queer surf-pop quartet who brought a retro punch with their crimson suits and jangly guitars, all very Bowie-esque. Their set was a fizzy cocktail of ’60s girl-group harmonies and modern wit, with standout solos from lead guitarist Rachel White and a cheeky energy that paired so well with Ok Go.
But back to the main event.
OK Go kicked off their set with a bang. Literally. Confetti cannons erupted within the first few bars and didn’t let up for the next 90 minutes. Lead singer Damian Kulash, ever the charming showman, paused between songs to field questions from the crowd. When asked about the confetti, he casually mentioned they use about 100 pounds per night, adding with a grin, “But it’s biodegradable… I think.”
That blend of spectacle and self-aware humor is OK Go’s signature. They’ve long been masters of the visual gag. Treadmills, Rube Goldberg machines, zero-gravity videos. But seeing them translate that inventiveness to the stage was incredible. From synchronized handbell performances to playful audience interactions, the band proved they’re not just YouTube darlings. They’re outright entertainers and musicians.
One of the most touching moments came when a young girl, perched on her dad’s shoulders, held up a handmade sign quoting song lyrics. When Kulash acknowledged her from the stage, she burst into tears, clearly overwhelmed. It was a sweet reminder of why we go to concerts: to feel something real, together.
By the end of the night, the floor was ankle-deep in confetti. Fans made snow angels, searched for lost earplugs, and basked in the afterglow of a show that was equal parts concert and carnival. OK Go didn’t just play music; they delivered the best show I’ve seen all year.
