Honestly, if you weren’t in the Indio desert on Friday, April 11, you missed one of the most awkward yet legendary moments in festival history. Benson Boone didn't just play Coachella 2025. He basically staged a high-stakes theatrical production that involved Dolce & Gabbana florals, a literal rock god, and a cardboard cutout.
It was a vibe. Mostly.
The 22-year-old "Beautiful Things" singer took the Coachella Stage at 7:10 PM, right as the sun was dipping behind the San Jacinto Mountains. He hit the stage with the kind of chaotic energy you only get from a guy who’s spent the last year doing backflips off grand pianos. But the real story isn't just about the flips. It’s about how half the crowd apparently didn't know they were standing in the presence of royalty.
The Brian May Cameo and the "Ay-Oh" That Went Nowhere
About halfway through his set, Boone decided to go full Freddie Mercury. He was draped in a royal fur cape, sitting at the piano, and started those iconic opening notes of "Bohemian Rhapsody." A full choir backed him up. Then, the moment happened.
Sir Brian May, the legendary Queen guitarist, rose from a platform at the back of the stage. He shredded the solo. It should have been a "where were you" moment for the ages.
Instead? The reaction was... muted.
It turns out that 2025 Coachella attendees might be a bit too young to recognize a 77-year-old in a silver mane, even if he's the guy who wrote "We Will Rock You." Boone shouted, "Brian May, everybody!" and was met with what can only be described as polite applause and a lot of confused TikTokers asking their friends who the old guy was.
Boone was visibly annoyed. He didn't hide it, either.
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Trolling Weekend Two with a Two-Dimensional Guest
If you thought he’d just let it go for Weekend Two on April 18, you don’t know Benson Boone. After venting on TikTok with a video of himself singing into a banana—captioned "Me trying to get the crowd at Coachella to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is"—he decided to lean into the joke.
Since the real Brian May was busy witnessing a NASA mission in Colorado, Boone brought out a life-sized cardboard cutout of May instead. He paraded it around, serenaded it, and basically spent the whole song "Bohemian Rhapsody" mocking the audience for their lack of taste the week before. It was petty. It was hilarious. It was peak Gen Z.
Breaking Down the Setlist and the Big Announcement
Beyond the Queen drama, the set was actually a massive career milestone. Boone used the 7:10 PM slot to drop some major news: his sophomore album, American Heart, is officially arriving on June 20, 2025.
He even debuted the title track, which has this heavy Americana, Bruce Springsteen-meets-modern-pop energy. If you’ve been following his "Fireworks & Rollerblades" era, this felt like a pivot toward something more "retro" and substantial.
The setlist was a mix of the hits we’ve all streamed to death and some surprisingly deep cuts:
- Be Someone: The high-energy opener where he did his first flip.
- Cry: Always a crowd favorite for the vocal runs.
- In the Stars: This was the emotional peak, just Benson and the mic, proving he’s actually one of the best male vocalists out there right now. No tracks, just raw belting.
- Mystical Magical: A newer track that really benefited from the live band.
- Beautiful Things: The closer, which he performed with Brian May (on Weekend One) and a massive sing-along that nearly shook the VIP tents.
What Most People Are Getting Wrong About the Show
There’s this narrative going around that Boone is "just a TikTok singer" or a "one-hit wonder." Coachella 2025 pretty much killed that.
The vocals were pitch-perfect. Even while he was literally hanging from a chandelier or doing gymnastics off the instruments, his voice didn't crack once. He’s got this Adele-like quality to his belting but with the stage presence of a 70s rock star.
Also, can we talk about the fashion? The D&G floral suit from Weekend One was a choice. A bold one. It looked like he’d raided a very expensive garden party, but somehow it worked with the desert backdrop. By the time he switched to the Mercury-inspired cape, the "showman" persona was fully formed.
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Why It Matters for the 2025 Arena Tour
This Coachella run was basically a dress rehearsal for his American Heart North American Arena Tour, which kicks off in August 2025. If he can command a festival stage of 100,000 people—even the ones who don't know who Brian May is—he’s going to crush Madison Square Garden and the Crypto.com Arena.
The production value has leveled up significantly. We're talking floating platforms, massive LED arrays, and a band that actually sounds like a rock group rather than a laptop.
Practical Insights for Fans
If you're planning on catching him on the upcoming tour based on the Coachella hype, here’s the reality:
- Bring Tissues: "In the Stars" live is a whole different beast. It’s heavy.
- Learn the Queen Catalog: If he keeps the "Bohemian Rhapsody" cover in the set, do him a favor and actually scream when the solo hits.
- The Flips are Real: He doesn't use a stunt double (obviously) or wires. It’s impressive, but also slightly terrifying to watch if you’re worried about his knees.
- Pre-save American Heart: Based on the title track he played in the desert, this album is going to be less "viral clip" and more "full album experience."
The Coachella 2025 performance proved that Benson Boone is moving into the "superstar" lane. Whether he’s trolling the crowd with cardboard or bringing out actual knights of the British Empire, he knows how to keep people talking. June 20 can’t come fast enough.
To get ahead of the crowd, you should check out the official American Heart pre-save links on his site. If you missed the Coachella livestream, the "Bohemian Rhapsody" clip with Brian May is still circulating on YouTube—watch it just to see the moment he flips off the piano right before the legend appears. It’s worth the five minutes.