Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo brought the house down April 9 at Madison Square Garden, marking the last of four sold-out shows at the famed arena for her ongoing world tour. Fans decked out in purple, sequins, and feather-trimmed cowboy hats filled the venue, eager to sing along to Rodrigo’s 2023 angsty pop-rock album GUTS.
After an opening set from 90s alternative rock favorites The Breeders, Rodrigo’s crowd of young, spirited supporters screamed with excitement as four 3D candles—spelling out GUTS, of course—were projected on stage. When the wax melted, Rodrigo would make her much-anticipated appearance.
Electric guitars crashed as a platform lifted Rodrigo to center stage, kicking off the show with her upbeat single “bad idea right?” Decked out in a sparkling silver outfit for the start of the show, Rodrigo worked the full stage from the moment she appeared, sprinting from one catwalk to another, dancing with her musicians, and interacting with fans in the crowd.
Rodrigo’s setlist featured nearly every song from GUTS and her debut album, SOUR, plus a few surprises, including an unexpected duet with special guest Jewel. Backed by eight skilled backup dancers and eye-catching effects—a significant upgrade in production value from her 2022 Sour Tour—Rodrigo put on a dazzling show, radiating confidence throughout.
Whether seated at a grand piano, shredding on the electric guitar, or floating on a giant crescent moon above the crowd, Rodrigo brought an electrifying energy to the MSG stage. Her seamless transitions between heart-wrenching ballads and early 2000s-style pop rock anthems kept the audience on the edge of their seats. As star-shaped confetti rained from the arena ceiling throughout the final notes of “get him back!,” Rodrigo danced her way backstage, triumphantly closing a show that certainly solidified her superstar status.
Olivia Rodrigo – Madison Square Garden – April 9, 2024
Setlist: bad idea right?; ballad of a homeschooled girl; vampire; traitor; drivers license; teenage dream; pretty isn’t pretty; love is embarrassing; making the bed; logical; enough for you; lacy; jealousy, jealousy; Can’t Catch Me Now; You Were Meant For Me (with Jewel); happier; favorite crime; deja vu; the grudge; brutal; obsessed; all-American bitch; good 4 u; get him back!
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