Concert Review: Chappell Roan - "Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things" in Pasadena, CA
- Abigail Mornhinweg
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Looking back on Chappell Roan’s meteoric rise to mainstream pop last summer, it’s easy to say it was inevitable with how many people wanted to see her live–she broke the record attendance at Lollapalooza last summer because of this want; however, when embarking on the “Vision of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things” tour, intimate venues were chosen instead of the arenas and I was lucky to grab a ticket for myself and a friend go see her live at Brookside at the Rose Bowl. The intimacy of the concert, while totaling about 20,000 audience members, was just enough to get the concert going without crowd rushes or fear of safety, along with connection with the crowd surrounding us and enough room to dance our hearts out.
The theme of the concert, as set by Chappell every time there’s a new show added to her tour, was “mermaid,” and audience members partook in as many ways as they could. Beachy attire and sandals were worn all over the venue, with special pieces also littered in, like a mermaid tail and Spongebob Squarepants inflatable costumes. Everyone took part in the theme, and with that, the unique experience of being a part of the Los Angeles stops of the “Visions” tour took shape. Merchandise, sold throughout the venue, also littered the crowds arriving and leaving the venue. With sweatshirts, like the brown Subway sweatshirt I picked up, bandanas brought out during “Red Wine Supernova,” or large fans used for cooling off in the pit were all available for varying prices throughout the venue.
After a DJ set by Trixie Mattel, a drag performance by Rhonda of “A Club Called Rhonda,” and an amazing set by Hemlocke Springs, Chappell came on at 9:15 to screaming crowds and opened up with the upbeat “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl.” With the crowd jumping and screaming the lyrics out for one of her biggest hits, Roan was effortlessly able to transition to “Femininomenon” to keep the energy going. This effortless transition between songs translated well throughout the rest of the concert, even going from high-energy, dance your heart out songs like “Guilty Pleasure” straight into “Casual,” a ballad that had audience members crying their eyes out. Roan navigated her setlist with the knowledge of how to interact with fans, providing a dance tutorial for “HOT TO GO!” and bringing out her own bandana for “Red Wine Supernova,” bringing fans together for a universal experience of having fun and being free to be ourselves while doing so.
As the set continued, flashlights lit up different parts of the pit to show that someone needed help. I really want to commend Roan for her ability to navigate these signals as she was able to provide attention to medical staff without interrupting the concert, something seasoned performers are able to do with ease and concern for their fans safety. As Brookside only provided general admission, there can be a fear of crowd crushes or heatstroke when going into the crowd. Roan was flawless on stage, and there were people all around handing out water to audience members, whether it’d be staff at the venue or fellow audience members. The community at Roan’s concerts doesn’t go unnoticed, and for that I’ll be eternally grateful.
With the concert continuing on, Roan took to the stage to talk with fans at the last leg of the concert. She expressed her love for the city of Los Angeles, the inspiration behind her hit song “Pink Pony Club,” and how the continuing raids by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) damaged the city’s safety and love, with eruptions of cheers among the crowd. The acknowledgement of how ICE raids affect a city that once was a safe place for anyone alike was met with universal praise by the audience. WIth moments like this, it’s important to acknowledge how the city of Los Angeles came together in a moment like this to advocate for what’s right and what was damaging, and Roan sent a message with this talk: no matter who you are, you will be safe at her concerts–something artists can acknowledge more, especially as safety slips in more and more places across the United States.
With the last song of the night being “Pink Pony Club,” Roan once again cited her love for the city she was playing in, saying that “This [song’s] for you, Los Angeles.” With a celebration of the city that once was not affected by ICE raids and a sense of fear among its citizens, the audience members celebrated being themselves in a city that accepted them. If there’s one message I believe Roan wanted us to take away from this concert, it would be to “never be afraid to fight for the causes you believe in and the safety to be yourself.” For the greater Los Angeles area, nothing has been more important to say.
Written By Abby Mornhinweg
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.