Culture
Indie-alternative rockstar Phoebe Bridgers embodies loss and growth on her ‘Lost Tour’
By: Hannah Jamieson
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOUB) – On the ninth anniversary of her studio album Stranger in the Alps, Sept. 22, Phoebe Bridgers performed at Nationwide Arena (200 West Nationwide Blvd.), her fourth stop on The Lost Tour.
The tour features Bridgers’ latest album, Lost Weekend, released Aug. 14. Bridgers has said the album is directly inspired by her father’s passing, which she reflected on throughout the show. The opening song on both the album and the concert, “The Outside,” describes the emotional intensity of attending her father’s funeral.
Bridgers’ Lost Tour also maintained a strict no-technology policy, enforced by having arena staff lock audience members’ phones and smartwatches into Yondr Pouches after clearing security. Those who needed their phone for medical necessities were given stickers to cover the camera. Attending a death-inspired concert without being able to immortalize the show online made the experience extremely sentimental and vulnerable for viewers.
Alternative-indie singer Alex G opened for Bridgers on the arena’s secondary stage, with mixed reviews. Although “Mary” and “Sarah” excelled, the rest of his set was ruggedly instrumental-heavy, contrasting the typical slow melodies from Bridgers.
On the main stage, a white dome appeared, with a television-static-esque teal projection on the curtains behind it. As Bridgers started performing “The Outside”, the dome rose, and variations of planets and Bridgers herself were projected throughout the show.
“Motion Sickness” was one of the first songs played from one of Bridgers’ other albums, a crowd favorite that made the arena loud as can be. One of the most interesting parts of the concert was the contrast in the crowd’s volume. Although fans screamed their lungs out for their favorites, when Bridgers spoke to the crowd, the audience listened so intently that you could hear a pin drop. This altogether displayed the close dynamic between Bridgers and her supporters.
Bridgers’ performance of “Kill Me”, “The Governor’s Waltz” and “Lost Boys” was stupendous, making her previous solo-career hiatus worth the wait. Bridgers’ vocals were very lucid and compelling, complemented by her band of fiddles, violins, drums, and keyboards.
After performing “Garden Song”, “Moon Song”, and “Liberty Tree”, Bridgers moved to her B-Stage. These tracks follow the theme of loss, but also highlight growth from it. Although these performances were extremely strong, they’re hard to explain without describing the complexities of the visuals.
The B-Stage was a round stage positioned in the middle of the back of general admission, embellished with either stars or a cyclical light with fog tendrils surrounding Bridgers – similar to a UFO; a nod to her astronomy-aesthetic. During “Lost Weekend”, the first song of the second set, explosive lasers lit up the arena with colorful squiggly lines, a breathtaking visual to an overwhelmingly emotional discography.
Bridgers played iconic tracks “Funeral”, “Bobby” and “Sidelines” before leading into her surprise song, “Waiting Room”. Bridgers also surprised the crowd by playing her previously unreleased song “On Video”, made for A24’s Primetime. Bridgers ended the set with performances of “Kyoto” and “I Know the End”, both compelling productions that left fans ravenous for more.
Beyond the instrumentals, Bridgers closed her show with an encore, singing “Scott Street”. After an exceptionally intimate and overall beautiful performance, Bridger’s said farewell to her audience by singing: “Anyway, don’t be a stranger.”
Setlist:
“The Outside” (second verse only), “Motion Sickness”, “Kill Me”, “The Governor’s Waltz”, “Lost Boys”, “DVD Menu”, “Garden Song”, “Moon Song”, “Liberty Tree”, “Panorama (instrumental)”, “Lost Weekend”, “Funeral”, “Graceland Too”, “Haunted”, “Still Standing”, “As Above”, “Bobby”, “Sidelines”, “Waiting Room”, “I Can’t Wait”, “On Video” (special surprise song), “Kyoto”, “I Know the End”
Encore:
“Lost Weekend (Reprise)” “Scott Street” “Never Going Back!” (performed by the band only)