Boston Was Glad It Happened With Enrose

Keith Timper
4 hours ago
4 min read

I was in chilly Beantown, also known as Boston (technically Cambridge), about 200 miles from where I normally haunt music venues. The reason? The final night of Enrose’s 'The Glad It Happened' Tour.

If you’re not familiar with Enrose, it is fronted by the spectacular Gabi Rose, who is also known for her work with Bilmuri, The Jonas Brothers, and even a sax solo on Sleep Token’s single “Emergence.” This New York–based powerhouse has been building quite a portfolio, and now with her solo project Enrose, fans can get a bite of even more work from her.

The Middle East Restaurant and Club is the location for tonight’s signature blend of Enrose’s energetic pop rock and jazz, with opener Another One Down. A nearly 200-capacity room is quite bold for a band on their first headlining tour, but if previous dates were any indication (NYC being a sellout), we’re sure to have a packed house. This eclectic building has been hosting a variety of music in the Boston scene for nearly 40 years.

We enter through the main bar and head back to the venue. Fans are piling in. The room is buzzing with electricity. Fans of Enrose have little to go on as to what to expect aside from some short clips and photos of the previous three dates, but are eagerly awaiting. The house lights dim. String lights light up the side of the venue, highlighting the merch table where fans can grab some exclusive Enrose merchandise.

This pop-punk five-piece from Rhode Island is not just a random act chosen to be the opener here. This band has become a constant in the New England music scene. It almost feels like a hometown show, considering the short drive from Rhode Island to the many venues in the Boston area. A lot of the fans in attendance already seem very familiar with the act, singing along with vocalist Marcus Simonini.The band pulled out some more recent singles such as “Sinners & Saints,” along with tracks off their 2021 EP A Bitter Descent, later released as a deluxe version in 2023.

The crowd’s energy is ramping up, not having slowed down since doors, and is about to hit its peak. Leaving no surprises, grandeur, or mystery, Enrose has been in plain sight for fans offstage while prepping. The band’s pre-show ritual becomes a fan-and-friend affair, as they choose to do it onstage for space reasons. Rose can be heard throughout the venue warming up her signature sax. While this is going on, she engages with the crowd and is gifted a one-of-a-kind Enrose jacket, which can be seen in some of the pictures below, as well as a hat from Smoke Showin Apparel Co.

With no lights going down this time, the band gets on stage and launches right into “Glad It Happen,” a single released in 2025. Rose, a master of her craft, effortlessly switches between singing and playing sax. During “My Happiness,” Rose enters the crowd to play sax, with fans surrounding her—reminiscent of the music video. This track also showcases the craftsmanship of the other members, including a keyboard solo from Kit Benz.

Slowing it down a bit, Enrose was about to play “Tattoo” off the EP My Happiness, but before that, she brought up a fan named Dustin. He tells the crowd he has been a fan for years and got a soundwave tattoo of the sax solo and second verse of the song, later embellished with lyrics and a signature handwritten by Gabi herself. She then explains during the song how guitarist Nick Cabrera is a “good boy with no tattoos,” and invites anyone who wants to “tattoo” him to come up. A fan takes the opportunity, drawing on his arm with a Sharpie while the band breaks into a jam of “One Dance” by Drake. Holding the groove down are bassist Valario Celentano and drummer Dan Rizzo.

Keeping the vibes slower, Rose explains how much the next song means to her, as it is deeply personal, and how surprised she is by how strongly fans have connected with it. An emotional Rose begins “Take Care.” Normally at this point the stage would be washed in blue light, but not here at The Middle East Upstairs. Instead, the warm lighting creates an even more intimate backdrop for the track.

Getting closer to the peak of the night and the tour, Rose looks over the crowd and exclaims, “I’ve got another confession to make,” launching into a surprise cover of “Best of You” by the Foo Fighters. Throughout the song, she jumps back into the crowd, singing with fans as they sing right back to her. It’s a universally loved track, and the entire room belts the chorus together. The night ends with “I Like It,” a 2024 single, and a heartfelt thank you from Gabi and the band. But the energy doesn’t die down—it carries over to the merch area, where Gabi continues engaging with fans still in the building.