LORDE CAPTIVATES FANS WITH AUTHENTICITY

In a moment of sheer luck, I learned that the Moda Center released more 300-level (affordable) ADA tickets for Lorde’s concert just two days before she was due in town, and I secured my spot for what ended up being one of the most magical evenings of my life.

It had been nearly five years since I last set foot into an arena for a concert, and all at once the excited energy overwhelmed me, and I was swept up in the crowds of people trying to find their seats.

Time passed quickly. At 7 p.m. Swedish electro-pop singer/songwriter Tove Styrke took the stage. Her radio-ready, dance-worthy songs got the crowd warmed up and excited for the night to come, and her sound was surely the right fit for fans of Lorde.

The only drawback to Styrke’s set was her cover of “Liability,” originally done by Lorde. Knowing that Lorde would be performing the number later made it feel like watching a spoiler before seeing the full show, or in this case, Lorde’s set. It would’ve been an enjoyable cover in any other context, but openers definitely shouldn’t cover other artists who are performing on the same show as them.

Positive energy

The only Americans on the show were in the hip-hop duo, Run The Jewels, which consists of rapper/producer El-P and rapper Killer Mike. Even as someone who hasn’t previously cared much for hip-hop, I could appreciate the energy that they shared with the room, and the subjects that they rapped about.

There was a lot of chanting “RTJ” throughout their set, as well as repeatedly reminding everyone that it’s Women’s History Month, and to respect and appreciate all of the women in our lives. The duo also touched on mental health awareness and suicide prevention by reminding everyone to keep an eye on their loved ones, and stating that suicide is never the answer. It was amazing to see a group use an arena-sized platform to spread important messages.

When Run The Jewels finished their set, I knew it was only a matter of 15-20 minutes before the New Zealand singer/songwriter, Lorde, would grace the stage. The giddiness I felt in those few minutes made me feel like I was at my first concert all over again, and when the lights lowered, the energy in the room exploded, right from the first few notes of “Sober.”

Lorde brought several dancers along with her to bring her songs to life. They added even more depth to the narratives she shared on both her latest record, “Melodrama,” as well as her debut album, “Pure Heroine.”

Intimate touch

A key part of the production was a giant, clear box that was onstage, acting as a room of sorts for the dancers to interact with and perform in, and occasionally it would lift up into the air and even tilt from side to side.

Before performing “Ribs,” Lorde said, “I want to take you somewhere. Let’s go back to my living room when I was 16 and my parents were away,” and when the song came to a close, she went into the box and changed into her next outfit, right there on stage in front of all of us. It felt like we were in her bedroom after the evening she had while her parents were away, and it was so captivating that it felt much more like a film or a play than what one would expect at a concert.

Lorde’s vulnerability and authenticity remained at the forefront of her entire show. It was obvious that nothing she said was really planned, and as she said it best, “The only way I know how to talk to crowds is like I’m talking to someone across from me at dinner, so, thanks for having dinner with me tonight, Portland.”

When she was about halfway through her performance, she decided to slow things down a bit. Crew members grabbed light sticks that originally lined the front of the stage, and moved them into piles on top of the clear box, which at this point was three-fourths of the way underneath the stage, so it was the perfect platform for the singer to sit on. The lights glowed orange and yellow, setting the mood much like a campfire.

Portland ties

Lorde sat down and took a moment to just talk to us about being in Portland. She reminisced on the first time she played here, specifically remembering the Crystal Ballroom’s bouncy floors. Then, she took the time to thank the friends and family of some of her crew members from Portland for allowing them to be away from home for so long, and she expressed such genuine appreciation for the work that they do. They’re two of the most important people on her touring crew – her photographer and her personal assistant.

It was a really sweet moment, and shined a light on just how grounded Lorde, aka Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, is at the age of just 21.

She then went into “Writer In The Dark,” a cover of “Solo” by Frank Ocean, and then “Liability.” It was the most emotional stretch of the evening. After that, she put a lot of focus into making sure everyone danced their troubles away the rest of the night.

The Portland date of the “Melodrama” World Tour came to an end far too quickly, but the way that Lorde made an arena feel like the size of a living room by being purely herself is something that will undoubtedly stick with everyone who was there.