It’s All Just a Dream, and I (Don’t) Wanna Wake Up: Lorde at the Wang Theatre
By Izzy Desmarais
Undoubtedly one of the most important and influential pop artists of this generation, Lorde has left an indelible mark on millions of people’s lives, my own included. I have been a huge fan of hers since she put out her first album Pure Heroine back in 2013. The hit single that put Lorde on the map, “Royals,” was sort of like a gateway drug for me. All-day, every day, for months straight, it was gold teeth, Grey Goose, tripping in the bathroom, bloodstains, ball gowns… (you get the idea). It probably wasn't until my 962nd time listening to the song that I thought, “Hey, I wonder what the rest of this album is like.” I was immediately hooked from there on out.
Four years later when Melodrama came out in 2017, I absolutely lost my mind. To this day, I would consider it the most anticipated album release of my entire life, and I really don’t think that is going to change any time soon. I saw her live in April 2018 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on the North American leg of the Melodrama World Tour. While most of that night still feels like a fever dream, I do remember the show being nothing short of spectacular. She had at least a dozen backup dancers, all matching her exuberant energy. At one point, there were dancers inside of a long, clear box suspended in the air, tilting back and forth. I almost forgot to pay attention to Lorde singing because I was so fascinated by how those dancers were able to not only keep their balance but not freak out as they were lifted at least ten feet up off the stage.
Another four years have passed since then, and Lorde has made a return with her third studio album Solar Power, released last August. This past Tuesday and Wednesday night, she performed two shows at the venerable Wang Theatre as a part of her Solar Power World Tour.
Last year, my friend was lucky enough to snag tickets for the second show on April 13th during its presale, as both dates sold out in mere minutes.
The last time I saw Lorde, Mitski opened the show and I have been a fan ever since. I love discovering new artists this way, so I was excited to see who she would pick this time around. Californian pop-funk artist Remi Wolf definitely did not disappoint. I was familiar with just one of her songs, “Photo I.D.,” but her entire setlist was just as fun and upbeat. I particularly enjoyed her cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” but I also loved her songs “Sexy Villain” and “Liz.” Wolf has an incredibly powerful voice, which allowed her to command the room with ease. I couldn’t stand still during her set, leaving me out of breath.
The opening set also gave me a feel for the crowd, who seemed just as excited to see Wolf as they were Lorde. The person behind me was especially excited for her set, cheering as loud as they possibly could after each song. Only my second concert of the year, I unfortunately went into Lorde’s show feeling pretty disillusioned. I knew Lorde was capable of putting on an amazing performance, but my first concert of the year — Bleacher’s second night at Roadrunner back on March 25th — still left a bad taste in my mouth. It was entirely the crowd’s fault; they remained aloof and disinterested for the opener, Charly Bliss, then their off-key singing totally overpowered Antonoff’s vocals throughout his entire set. So, it was definitely reassuring to see such great energy so early in the night. Plus, I once again left a Lorde show with another artist I want to listen to more.
Lorde had a near perfect setlist with a great balance of songs off of each album. All it was missing was “400 Lux,” but that’s just a personal favorite of mine.
“Leader of a New Regime” was the opening song I didn’t know I needed, as it perfectly encapsulated the journey we were about to take as an audience. Its sound eased us into that familiar world of Solar Power, surrounding us with the golden and ethereal warmth that defines the album. Its lyrics, however, alluded to the darker moments that would inevitably happen throughout the setlist — “Won't somebody, anybody, be the leader of a new regime? / Free the keepers of the burnt-out scene another day,” Lorde sang. This serene spirit continued with songs like “The Path,” “California,” and “Oceanic Feeling.”
Contrastingly, there were absolute ragers, flooded with neon lights and heavy bass. These included “Hard Feelings,” “Supercut,” and “Green Light.” There were slower songs that still don’t let you rest because instead of dancing like a madwoman you’re sobbing and gasping for air, like “Stoned at the Nail Salon” and “Liability.” And of course, we all relived all that early teenage angst with “Buzzcut Season” and “Ribs.” Before going into “Ribs,” Lorde urged us all to “dance to our fifteen year old selves,” which each audience member certainly took to heart.
The show’s set was much more elaborate than during her Melodrama tour. With a huge eclipsing sun/moon figure as a backdrop and a large staircase in the center of the stage, the set was continuously moving, which made for a sort of cinematic experience.
Her backup performers didn’t really dance so much as play their instruments and have a few rehearsed movements, but Lorde was fervently jumping up and down like she always does. You could tell she was having fun and was excited to see we were too.
She was incredibly gracious — “What did I do to deserve you, Boston!” she exclaimed early on in the show and frequently expressed similar sentiments when she took a moment to catch her breath and chat with us. At one point, she reflected on the pandemic and the early months where everybody was locked away in their homes. During that time, she said she was able to reassess what was working and what wasn’t working in her life. Everything that wasn’t working was immediately abandoned — there simply was no time for it anymore. She said to us, “You held me up and decided I could stay, and that means so much to me.”
Looking back on each of the two Lorde shows I now have under my belt, I don’t think there was much of a difference in terms of their excellence. I would definitely say this most recent Boston show made for a much more intimate experience than the show at Mohegan Sun. While that could have been because of how much closer my seats were, I’ve found that Lorde is able to foster an immersive atmosphere no matter the venue. Even from the very top of that arena in 2018, I still felt like I was very much a part of the show.
Lorde’s performance reaffirmed why I love going to concerts. I love closing my eyes and letting myself go in the music and leaving the venue absolutely drenched in my own sweat. I was hanging on to every last lyric at that show, and I’ll keep holding on until I get to see her next.