Olivia Rodrigo is on stage at TD Garden, with large video screens behind her making her appear 40 feet tall. She is the main focus for 20,000 enthusiastic fans, but it's difficult to hear her over their loud cheering.
Despite Olivia Rodrigo's powerful voice being amplified by a million watts, it's still not loud enough to drown out the thousands of fans who enthusiastically sing along to every word of her song 'Vampire.' This song is deeply personal to Rodrigo, as it tells the story of her being used and manipulated by an older man. However, at TD Garden, the audience fully embraced the song as their own, and Rodrigo seemed pleased with that.
Olivia Rodrigo is considered the best pop songwriter of her generation, but she also has a rock vibe. She writes smart and intense punk hooks with strong electric guitar parts and big build-ups. During the show, she performed these hooks with loudness, strength, and intensity, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
Rodrigo, accompanied by her talented seven-piece, all-female band, started the show with the popular song 'Bad Idea, Right?' and then moved on to her powerful track 'Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl.' Later, she was joined by a group of dancers for several songs, and the theatrical elements matched the artistry of her performance. Towards the end of the show, she revisited her grunge style with songs like 'Brutal,' 'Jealousy, Jealousy,' and 'All-American Bitch,' creating an intense and raw experience reminiscent of 'Bad Reputation,' 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' and 'Just a Girl'.
A special quality of Rodrigo's performance is her ability to give emotional depth to her heartbreaking ballads as she does to her louder songs. Her slow-building, emotionally powerful ballads resonate deeply with her fans, addressing themes of heartbreak, societal pressure on teenage girls, and personal struggles.
During the concert, the energetic crowd enthusiastically sang along to every word of Rodrigo's songs, including 'Drivers License' and 'Teenage Dream,' projecting their feelings and emotions into the lyrics.
Rodrigo made it clear to the audience that she wanted them to fully experience and express their emotions during her performance.
Rodrigo is skilled at delivering both high-energy rock songs and emotional ballads with equal passion. She can even blend both styles, as seen in her song 'Deja Vu.' Considering her versatility, it's likely that she will perform in football stadiums next summer. The only thing she can't do is out-sing 20,000 of her dedicated fans.
The show opened with a performance by Chappell Roan, and while not everyone knew her, many in the audience appreciated her campy disco pop and sang along. It's possible that she may headline at TD Garden in 2024, potentially taking over for Olivia Rodrigo.
Olivia Rodrigo, who is considered the best songwriter for popular music of her age group, is a rock musician.
