Big Thief’s sold-out performance at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway on Tuesday night was a masterclass in intimacy, vulnerability, and collective transcendence. For two full hours, the Brooklyn-based quartet—Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, James Krivchenia and joined by Joshua Crumbly on bass—held a packed house in quiet awe one moment and joyous movement the next.

From the opening notes of the unreleased Beautiful World, it was clear this would be a special night. Fans leaned forward, eager to catch every lyric of the new material, many hearing these songs for the first time. Big Thief then flowed seamlessly into Los Angeles and Incomprehensible, their interplay as fluid and emotional as ever. Lenker’s voice—fragile yet fierce—cut through the warm, shimmering sound that filled the room.

The setlist was a journey through the band’s evolving universe: the tender ache of Mythological Beauty, the restless groove of Little Things, and the pastoral calm of Cattails all reminded fans why Big Thief shows feel more like shared experiences than performances. When Shark Smile began, the crowd erupted, singing every word in unison.

Midway through the set, the band offered a stretch of quiet magic—Terminal Paradise into Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You and Simulation Swarm—a spellbinding run that showcased their balance of folk mysticism and experimental rock. The unreleased Trade Tomorrow hinted at new creative directions, while Muscle Memory, performed live for the first time, brought a hush over the hall before building to a cathartic crescendo.

In one of the night’s few unpredictable moments, Buck Meek began Pareidolia only to stop midway, grinning as the band shared a laugh before moving on to Not a Lot Just Forever and the hypnotic Double Infinity. By the time Grandmother Masterpiece closed the main set, the connection between band and audience felt complete.

The encore—Change, Vampire Empire, and a joyous, foot-stomping Spud Infinity—was the perfect release. Fans danced, clapped, and shouted the lyrics, filling the hall with a warmth that lingered long after the final note.

Big Thief’s Boston show wasn’t just another stop on tour—it was a reminder of their rare gift: to make a sold-out venue feel as intimate as a living room and as transcendent as a cathedral.