Chappel Roan’s pop-up tour, “Visions of Damsels& Other Dangerous Things,”took to the Forest Hills Stadium stage from Sept 20-24.
Roan’s limited-run concert was a sought-after event, showing in just three cities nationwide. With high attendance expectancy, fans had to register in advance and be randomly selected for tickets. The result was four sold-out shows and an electric crowd of devoted listeners who felt like they’d won a prize just by being there.
Before the show, fans could stop by merchandise tables, merch customization tables, various photo-op stations and grab some food. From the moment you walked into the queue and entered the venue, you could see that fans went all out for the show with their colorful, themed outfits.
Starting the show with a bang, Roan had local drag queens take the stage to warm up the crowd. The queens brought the energy up in the pit with dancing and commentary. The opening singer, Hemlocke Springs, perfectly fit the vibe of the fantasy-themed pop-up and officially opened the show for the Midwest Princess.
By 8:30 p.m., Roan took to the stage. Her setlist included well-known pop hits, such as “Hot to Go” and “Red Wine Supernova,” as well as her lesser-known songs like “Love Me Anyways” and “California.”
Some of the night’s highlights included her cover of “Barracuda” by Heart, and her songs “Hot to Go” and “Coffee.” During “Hot to Go,” there were pyrotechnics, and Roan taught the crowd the infamous dance that accompanies the song. This was by far the most energetic song of the night.
“Coffee” was a personal favorite and was one of the more serious moments of the night. Roan sat down and sang while the audience swayed back and forth with their phone flashlights, creating a initate atmosphere for both Roan and the crowd.
Despite a jam-packed setlist, Roan noticeably left out one song in particular. “Kaleidoscope,” is a fan favorite and was sorely missed during the show.
“I figured if she played every other song off of the album, she might as well do them all. I know Kaleidoscope is an underrated song, but it’s one of my favorites, and I think it should’ve gotten justice,” said Gabriela Heigel, 19, who had been in the pit for three hours prior to Roan’s set.
Even without “Kaleidoscope,” Roan gave fans a night they’ll never forget. Between the drag openers, the costumes and the music, the show felt less like a concert and more like a community, one that fans were lucky to be a part of.
