Billie Eilish makes packed arena feel like a living-room get together in Denver (review)
March 19, 2022
by Jenn Cohen
photos courtesy of Alive Coverage
Grammy-Award winning Billie Eilish made the sold-out crowd at Ball Arena a judgment-free zone last night. Fans of Billie Eilish made connections across the aisle while they waited for her Happier Than Ever show to start. Using the lights on their phones, fans of Billie Eilish made their own Morse Code, mimicking each other’s lights from across the arena. Then, the sold-out crowd chanted “Billie, Billie, Billie,” the lights went dark, phones with red record lights went on, and the Happier Than Ever Tour show began.
Eilish appeared on stage with an explosive jump, foreshadowing the energy she would maintain throughout the night. Ms. Eilish had only 2 rules for her Happier Than Ever tour: “You’re not allowed to judge anyone here; don’t be an asshole. And the main rule is, have fun!” She then launched into “Bury a Friend” and continued through her catalog, which had fans singing back every word.
Admittedly late to the Billie Elish phenomenon, I expected a crowd made up of primarily teenagers, but the diversity of ages and genders was refreshing. In front of me, a 12-year old girl named Ava was there for her “very first concert ever.” She was decked out in Billie Eilish merch, and had a sign; I looked forward to hearing about her experience after the show.
Concerts at Ball Arena are typically accompanied by an arsenal of support for the artist, including stage equipment, lights, props, and back-up dancers with extravagant outfits, but Eilish chose a minimal set up, juxtaposed with a dominating stage presence, and she pulled it off flawlessly. The only other people on the stage were her multi-instrumentalist brother, Finneas, and drummer, Andrew Marshall.
Eilish, donning a baggy Misfits t-shirt, biker shorts, and two messy buns, was never inhibited by possible wardrobe malfunctions that can come with the flash of big-production costumes. Eilish is in this realm on her own terms, and she shows no signs of catering to the latest here-today-gone-tomorrow trends.
Throughout the 115 minute set, Eilish checked on the well being of her fans. “Does everyone have enough water? Is everyone okay? Drink lots of water and pretend that nothing bad exists.” She also brought attention to the climate crisis during “All the Good Girls Go to Hell,” saying, “we need to do better.”
The altitude here, 5280 ft above sea level, has never been kind to artists traveling through Denver, and Eilish was no exception. Between songs, she commented, “So, you guys are used to this not breathing,” and mentioned her asthma. “I’m just impressed you guys can breathe.”
Neither of these issues inhibited her from dancing, kicking, jumping, and crouching down to serenade the fans in the front rows. Screams of, “I love you, Billie” could be heard during the quiet moments, and security passed flowers back and forth between Eilish and fans.
Bringing the intimacy to a cozy living-room feel, Eilish told everyone to take a seat, and she and her brother, Finneas, sat on stools to croon fan-favorite “i love you.” She told us she was lucky to be able to tour with her best friend, Finneas, who then stepped away while Eilish sang “Your Power,” which she said she is most proud of, and “Male Fantasy.”
The concert flowed perfectly between energetic and calming moments, each coming at the right time. At one point, Eilish led everyone through a mini-meditation, telling fans to,“sit down, and keep your phones away from your faces so I can see you.” She also successfully managed to lead the crowd of 20,000 through a full-arena “wave” typically seen at sporting events.
Opting to forego the delayed-gratification of the encore, Eilish let us know when there were only 2 songs left. She thanked her crew, security, family, the fans, and said, “There’s only 2 songs left. Let’s agree to give every ounce of your energy!” And the crowd did. Eilish closed with “bad guy,” and “Happier Than Ever,” finishing her 115-minute set.
Confetti rained on the crowd as she and her bandmates rolled down a tilted portion of the stage like kids rolling down a grassy hill. They bowed to deafening applause, and then Billie took the final bow of the evening. I wanted to ask Ava what she thought when it was over, but the tears streaming down her face said more than words ever could.
Category: Photo Galleries, National News
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