Taylor Swift w/ HAIM, Gracie Abrams
Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
07.22.23
Saturday night Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated Eras Tour transformed Seattle’s Lumen Field Stadium into a spectacle of music and enchantment as the biggest concert of the year visited the Pacific Northwest. The buzzing crowd was decorated as an eclectic blend of various eras, featuring cowboy boots, sparkles, leather, and tie-dye – all strikingly unique, yet belonging together in a harmonious bouquet.
The atmosphere was electric from the moment the countdown ran out. As Swift started to sing, the first thirty seconds of her performance were drowned completely inaudible by the crowd erupting with screams and cheers. Swift disclosed she recently read a diary entry she wrote during her Reputation tour, a singular line stating, “Seattle is the best crowd!”. She followed with, “So no pressure…but ALL the pressure, you have a lot to live up to!” The Seattle crowd delivered again as the energy was infectious throughout the entire night, with fans of all ages singing along to every word, creating a collective chorus that filled the entire venue and flooded beyond the open rafter ceiling.
The Eras Tour took the audience on a nostalgic trip through Swift’s illustrious 17 year long career, from early country inspired songs to more recent folk and pop anthems. As the night progressed, the stage continued to transform along with Swift, representing the different phases of her creative evolution. The intricate visual displays, countless costume changes, and thoughtfully choreographed routines perfectly facilitated the seamless journey through each distinctive era. Swift’s songs from her most recent albums were met with just as much enthusiasm as her classic hits, proving that her ability to reinvent herself while staying true to her core identity has been the key to her enduring success.
Swift shared that during the pandemic, she put out as many albums as humanly possible as a way to connect with her fans, as a result of not being able to preform live. The Eras tour is unique in that it has been her first opportunity to preform many of these newer songs live. Swift reflected on this before leading into “Champagne Problems”, as she had longed for the day she would be able to sing it alongside a crowd. For that reason she confided, “this tour has been one of the truly most magical moments of my life, and I’m not being hyperbolic”.
Continuing the journey through her self-proclaimed “Folklorian fantasy” Swift explained how she fabricated a narrative of herself as a pioneer, or a Victorian woman living in a cabin… “probably located somewhere in Washington State” she teased with a wink. Swift never missed an opportunity to connect with her fans and make each stop on her tour feel individual and extraordinary.
Another memorable moment was the acoustic segment, where Swift took center stage with just her guitar and piano. She warned the crowd there would not be a special guest this evening. Cheers ensued. Clarifying further, she was being upfront that “there is no special guest tonight, you’re stuck with just me”. Only when the cheers enthusiastically amped up again did Swift realize fans were simply happy to have her continue to preform solo. Touched by the encouragement from the crowd, she lead into her acoustic set. Stripped down and vulnerable, she showcased her incredible vocal talent, leaving the audience captivated by the different renditions of old favorites. Seattle was treated to a raw version of “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”, followed by “Everything Thing Has Changed”.
The evening closed with several favorites from the most recent “Midnights” album. In all, the evening was a mesmerizing a journey through Swift’s musical evolution, a testament to her incredible talent, and a celebration of the profound undying connection she shares with her fans. The Eras Tour is a triumph of talent, proving that Taylor Swift’s prowess continues to shine, solidifying her status as one of the most influential and beloved artists of our time. No one loves what they do more than Taylor Swift, and the 3+ hour spellbinding performance in Seattle at Lumen Field on Saturday night affirms it.
Haim delivered a high energy performance from the very first moment, as they literally ran out on the stage, one sister followed by another to kick off “Now I’m in it”. From shredding guitar, to badass drum skills, to killer vocals, Haim’s set served an edgy rock sound. A highlight to the evening was when they joined the stage again later as a guest appearance. Alongside Swift they surprised fans with unique rendition of “No Body, No Crime”. Swift shared how she was excited for it for months just anticipating being able to sing this song together and just how meaningful it was to preform with her best friends.
Gracie Abrams connected with fans from the very start, “You all look so cool with your sparkles, and I’m honored to be in this room with you all. We’ll play a few songs and then we can all cry together listening to Taylor.” Low and moody vocals with a wide range were on display during “Block Me Out.” Abrams delivered more effortless cool girl vibes during “I know it won’t work” as the crowd sang along and waited for the verse to take off. Abrams shared that after playing, “I miss you, I’m sorry” one night, the song was added to the set thanks to Taylor’s suggestion. She gushed, “Every single day on this tour is a dream!”
Photos by Logan Westom
Review by Allison Leaf
