Review by Todd McMahon
Photos by David Urmanski
MINNEAPOLIS – If the Minnesota Vikings ever win a Super Bowl – and many of us over this way would probably say that’s a BIG ‘if’ – their long-suffering fans will have a tough time out-shouting the collective roar for the most celebrated MVP to now play their notoriously loud home.
Two electric sold-out shows by Taylor Swift this past weekend did everything but blow off the roof at U.S. Bank Stadium. Not that more than 120,000 devout or newly self-described “Swifties” who packed the cavernous arena over the two nights didn’t try.
“It was truly a one-of-a-kind performance that blew the whole crowd away,” Emily Blaney of Green Bay summed up after attending the first of Swift’s back-to-back dates in Minnesota on Friday night as part of the highly anticipated The Eras Tour.
Blaney was among many from Northeast Wisconsin who made the nearly 300-mile pilgrimage from Northeast Wisconsin to downtown Minneapolis, which was ceremoniously renamed “Swiftie-apolis” by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “As a singer, songwriter, performer and producer, Taylor is one of the most popular artists, and we’re expecting hundreds of thousands to visit our downtown and experience our city as a result,” Frey declared in a statement beforehand.
Universal pop star Swift’s last appearance in Minnesota was in August 2018, also at U.S. Bank Stadium for the Reputation Tour. Within the first 15 minutes of taking to a massive, diamond-shaped stage that extended the length of what would be from one end zone of the Vikings’ football field past midfield on the stadium floor, Swift was visibly smitten that her highly exuberant audience didn’t heed the call of “You Need to Calm Down” for “being too loud.”
“You just make me feel so powerful!” a smiling Swift said in her welcoming remarks at the onset of her opening “Lover” set of six songs before flexing her left arm and gently kissing her bicep. U.S. Bank Stadium is regarded as one of the loudest indoor sports venues in the United States – having reached over 120 decibels (nearly as loud as a jet engine at takeoff) for Vikings football games since it opened in 2016.
Swift’s grand entrance – she suddenly appears in the middle of the stage after being shrouded by majestically large, colorful flags that were carried out by some of her entourage – brought the house down. The deafening crescendo didn’t subside much the ensuing 3-plus hours.
Very few musicians have a stage presence and perform nonstop for that length of time, the equivalent of a National Football League game. Unlike a Vikings game at U.S. Bank Stadium or a Packers game at Lambeau Field, fans at a Swift show on the current tour can’t count on having a halftime to make a sufficient break to the restroom or the concession stand without missing any of the action.
Swiftie Nation has been hanging in there with the tireless Swift, 33, every riveting step on-stage – and in tune with her every captivating note – in what has become a standard 44-song set each night on The Eras Tour. The tour, which ends its run in the States on August 9th in Los Angeles before Swift embarks on an ambitious international run into next year, is a tribute to all of Swift’s studio albums since she broke onto the scene with considerable hype as a 16-year-old country singer in 2006. Who remembers “Taylor Swift” as a headliner at Country USA in Oshkosh in 2009?
“This far into the show, I can already tell you’re a phenomenal, insane crowd,” Swift said 45 minutes in Friday night, eliciting more thunderous approval from the assembled.
The few times they could catch their breath was for only a minute or two when one of about 15 wardrobe changes by Swift off stage featured interludes on stage with Swift’s band or striking cinematic components on the colossal video board at the back of the stage.
No matter the price for the highly coveted tickets, concertgoers have not been shortchanged at a Swift show in 2023.
“The Eras Tour is the most visually elaborate, creative and overall fun performance I have ever seen,” said Blaney, the proud Swiftie from Green Bay. “The physicality put forth by Taylor and her talented dancers and band for hours, nonstop, was truly incredible.”
The charismatic Swift was plenty happy to oblige her faithful throughout the Friday performance. As she and her cast commanded the stage on all sides and corners, they made sure the crowd was every bit as engaged. The theatrical production was replete with a snow shower of confetti from the stadium rafters, bursts of smoke and fire from the stage, Swift giving away her hat to an excited young fan in the front row and, best yet, a sea of various synchronized colors that lit up in the stadium seats during select songs courtesy of wristbands given to attendees.
“Here’s my goal (tonight),” Swift told the crowd early in the festivities. “These songs could’ve been written about something that happened to me when I was 15 or 22 or 30 or 26, but by the time you leave here tonight, when you hear these songs, I really hope you think about the memories that we made tonight, in this stadium, at this show, on Friday night, Minneapolis, Minnesota.”
She then added charmingly, “All right, I’ll be your host this evening. My name’s Taylor,” eliciting one of many big roars from the guests who dressed appropriately for a big night out on the town.
Teenagers and adults alike in glittering attire from head to toe. Girls wearing “Miss Americana” sashes and “1989” jackets. An ode to “The Man” with guys dressed as tennis players wearing polos, athletic shorts and headbands. Dads with daughters wearing homemade “I ❤️ Taylor” T-shirts. Moms with sons wearing customized cowboy hats with blinking lights. In short, Swifties aren’t bashful in the bedazzled department when in the company of their “Bejeweled” heroine.
“I just have a feeling I know the answer to this one: Is there anyone who put in a lot of thought about what they were going to wear tonight?” said Swift, prompting huge cheers Friday. “I say this because it’s very aesthetically pleasing what I’m seeing, OK? You did an amazing job!”
After losing their voices while getting carried away by “…Ready for It?” and “Look What You Made Me Do” from the “Reputation” era and “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space” and “Bad Blood” during the “1989” portion of the show, Swifties ventured back outside into the contrasting stillness of the late evening in Minneapolis with good “Karma” on their side.
Supporting Swift on the Minneapolis stop of the tour were Girl in Red (both nights), Gracie Abrams (Friday only) and Owenn (Saturday only).
TAYLOR SWIFT
SETLIST
(June 23-24, 2023, at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis):
“Lover” era
– Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince
– Cruel Summer
– The Man
– You Need to Calm Down
– Lover
– The Archer
***
“Fearless” era
– Fearless
– You Belong with Me
– Love Story
***
“Evermore” era
– ‘tis the damn season
– willow
– marjorie
– champagne problems
– tolerate it
***
“Reputation” era
– …Ready for It?
– Delicate
– Don’t Blame Me
– Look What You Made Me Do
***
“Speak Now” era
– Enchanted
***
“Red” era
– 22
– We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
– I Knew You Were Trouble
– All Too Well
***
“folklore” era
– the 1
– betty
– the last great american dynasty
– august
– illicit affairs
– my tears ricochet
– cardigan
***
“1989” era
– Style
– Blank Space
– Shake It Off
– Wildest Dreams
– Bad Blood
***
Surprise Songs
(6/23)
– Paper Rings
– If This Was a Movie
(6/24)
– Dear John
– Daylight
***
“Midnights” era
– Lavender Haze
– Anti-Hero
– Midnight Rain
– Vigilante Shit
– Bejeweled
– Mastermind
– Karma
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