5 stars 

I have to admit, Shawn Mendes is one of my favorite artists and I would probably enjoy any concert of his. However, as I climbed the stairs towards my seat, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this one, both because of the steep climb and the thousands of girls who had already begun screaming loudly.

For the entirety of Charlie Puth’s opening act, I tried to adjust my ears, but it was only when Mendes’ arrived that I was able to do so. As he started singing his single “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” the screams seemed to subside and the only focus was his voice.

With a guitar as his only prop it’s a miracle that Mendes is able to keep a crowd of mostly teenage girls entertained, but somehow he’s able to make them scream during his high-energy hits such as “Mercy” and “Stitches” and have them quiet down for ballads like “Never Be Alone.”

Even more surprisingly, Mendes sounds just as good if not better live. His voice, despite the crowds of screaming girls drowning out some parts, is clear and melodic. There is no difference between the way Mendes sounds on his records and the way he sounds on stage.

The only negative thing about the show was one that Mendes’ himself isn’t able to control, the screams. With the way Mendes’ popularity is rising, the beauty of his songs and the ferocity of his fan base—it might soon be time for Mendes to move on to stadium tours. Stadiums might do a better job of quieting the screams of thousands of teenage girls.

However, when Mendes comes back to Washington D.C, I think I will brave the screams again and watch in awe at his ability to entertain a crowd with just his voice and his guitar.

Check out Shawn Mendes’ latest single “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”: