If you’ve ever scrolled through TikTok and felt like a song was reading your private journal, you’ve probably heard Alec Benjamin. But seeing him live? That’s a whole different beast. Honestly, there’s a massive misconception that an Alec Benjamin show is just a quiet, somber affair with a guy and his guitar.
Wrong.
The Alec Benjamin tour 2024, officially dubbed the "12 Notes Tour," was actually a high-energy, narratively driven production that turned venues like Radio City Music Hall into massive living rooms. It wasn't just about the music; it was about the stories between the songs. The 2024 run was the first time we saw Alec really lean into a high-concept stage design—specifically, a bedroom set complete with a bed, a desk, and little trinkets that made the 3,000-capacity rooms feel weirdly intimate.
The 12 Notes Tour Experience
The North American leg kicked off on September 6 in San Diego. It felt like a homecoming for a guy who spent years literally busking in parking lots outside of other people’s concerts.
He didn't just play the hits.
The setlist for the Alec Benjamin tour 2024 was a calculated mix of the new album 12 Notes—which dropped in May 2024—and the "classics" that put him on the map. Most fans were surprised by how hard "I Sent My Therapist to Therapy" went in a live setting. It’s a tongue-in-cheek track, but with a full band behind him, it turned into an anthem for a generation that’s very open about mental health.
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The tour covered 31 cities, wrapping up at the Hollywood Palladium on October 25. If you missed it, you missed some of the most genuine fan interactions I’ve seen in years. Alec is known for reading fan signs out loud, but during this run, he went further, often stopping the show to respond to shout-outs or even joking with fans about song requests he didn't know how to play.
What the Setlist Actually Looked Like
People keep asking what he played. It wasn't just a 12 Notes promo tour.
Alec is smart. He knows people want "Water Fountain" and "Let Me Down Slowly." He usually saved the heavy hitters for the end, but the middle of the set was where the magic happened. He did this cool acoustic segment where he’d sit on the edge of the stage or on the prop sofa. He played "Jesus in LA" and "The Book of You & I" with just enough vulnerability to make the person in the back row feel like he was singing directly to them.
- I Sent My Therapist to Therapy (The high-energy opener)
- Different Kind of Beautiful
- If We Have Each Other
- The Way You Felt
- Devil Doesn't Bargain
- Mind Is a Prison
- Pick Me
- Water Fountain (Total crowd favorite)
- Boy in the Bubble
- 12 Notes
- Let Me Down Slowly (The inevitable closer)
There were some deep cuts too. "Outrunning Karma" and "If I Killed Someone for You" showed up regularly, proving that his older Narrated for You mixtape still holds a massive amount of weight with the "old school" fans who have been following him since 2018.
The Opening Act: Matt Hansen
You can't talk about the Alec Benjamin tour 2024 without mentioning Matt Hansen.
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Selecting an opener is a bit of an art form. You need someone who matches the vibe but doesn't overshadow the headliner. Matt was a perfect fit. He’s another artist who blew up via social media, and his soulful, raspy vocals warmed up the crowd perfectly. In cities like Boston and NYC, the crowd was already singing along to Matt’s songs like he was the main event. It created this cohesive "singer-songwriter" night that felt curated rather than just a random pairing.
Why 2024 Was a Turning Point
Before this tour, Alec was often boxed in as "the guy with the high voice who writes sad songs."
This tour changed the narrative.
He showed a lot more range. He played more instruments. He cracked jokes. The production value was higher than his Uncommentary tour in 2022. It felt like he finally grew into the "pop star" shoes while keeping the "neighborhood storyteller" soul. He even experimented with some of his Mandarin versions of songs in certain markets, showcasing his global reach.
The "12 Notes" album itself is essentially 12 journal entries. Seeing those entries performed chronologically (sorta) alongside his older work gave a real sense of his evolution from a kid with a guitar to a seasoned touring professional.
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Critical Feedback and Fan Gripes
It wasn't all perfect.
Some fans in the VIP sections at various venues complained that the seating arrangements made it hard to see the stage when Alec sat down for his acoustic sets. If you’re at a venue like the Hollywood Palladium or The Fillmore, and you’re in a flat VIP area, you’re basically staring at the back of someone’s head the moment the artist sits on a prop sofa.
Also, the show was short. Alec doesn't do three-hour Taylor Swift-style marathons. You're usually looking at a 75 to 80-minute set. For some, that's not enough. For others, it's the perfect length for a storyteller who puts that much emotional weight into every lyric.
What's Next After the 2024 Run?
If you missed the North American dates, the Alec Benjamin tour 2024 was just the precursor to his massive 2025 European and UK expansion. He’s taking the same "12 Notes" concept to legendary venues like the Royal Albert Hall in London and L’Olympia in Paris.
If you're planning on catching him in the future, here are the moves:
- Follow his "Notes": Alec often drops hints about secret shows or setlist changes on his Discord and Instagram.
- Check the Setlist: If you’re a casual fan, listen to 12 Notes and Narrated for You back-to-back. That’s the core of the show.
- Arrive Early: Since he attracts a younger crowd, the lines for the barrier start hours before doors. If you want to see the "bedroom" trinkets on stage, you need to be up front.
- Watch for 2025 Tickets: The European leg is already selling out fast. Use official sites like Ticketmaster or Alec’s own website to avoid the insane resale markups on secondary markets.
The 2024 tour proved that Alec isn't a flash-in-the-pan internet sensation. He's an artist with staying power and a fanbase that grows with him. Whether he’s singing about his therapist or his mother, people are listening—and they’re showing up in droves to hear the next chapter.