P!NK brought her Beautiful Trauma World Tour to Cleveland on Wednesday, March 28th. She delivered her incredible stage show to the sold out crowd at Quicken Loans Arena in a manner representative of all she has been and all she continues to be. A powerhouse vocalist, P!NK could stand on a stage with nothing but a single spotlight and create a phenomenal musical presentation. Instead, she combined incredible acrobatics, impassioned storytelling, and intricate choreography with an impressive stage and light show to create an evening that no one in attendance is likely to forget.
Opening the night was Bleachers, headed by Jack Antonoff (whom also is the lead guitarist for fun.). With dual drum sets and heavy synthesizer use, they pumped up the energy of the crowd filling the arena with a late-80s, early 90s vibe.
As the lights dropped and the crowd rose to it’s feet, everyone’s attention focused on the billowing pink curtain in anticipation of P!NK’s imminent arrival. After the somewhat surreal fanfare announced the beginning of the show, expectations were not disappointed as the curtain dropped and P!NK appeared high above the crowd and the remainder of her crew on stage.
The performers’ immediate intensity was instantly matched by the audience, lifting the communal energy throughout the venue and embodying the spirit of the opening number, Get the Party Started.
Throughout the night, the show seamlessly shifted in mood, imagery and emotion. High intensity numbers such as Revenge and an incredible cover of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit gave way to poignant renditions of Just Give Me a Reason and Try (even pulling tears from my own eyes). Sets and costumes shifted from circus-like pinks and magentas to ethereal, dark woods and characters. The night embraced the most spectacular uses of stage technology—blasting fire into the air so hot it could easily be felt 20 rows back during Just Like Fire—and stripped things down to the simplest elements—highlighting the almost acoustic presentation of Barbies and I Am Here with clean white spotlights illuminating P!NK sitting on a stool at the front of the catwalk, encircled by her band mates.
Along with the impressive spectacle of her stage show, P!NK also used her platform to address very real subject matters—spreading both serious and inspiring messages of life through spoken words and imagery. Spaces between major set and costume changes were filled with poignant messages. During one, her recorded voice could be heard sharing various quotes – “I need to know that my pain is helping your pain” – “I have always identified with people that struggle” – while a slideshow showing images of her life, real life, and real people were massively projected at the back of the stage. In another, the words she spoke to her daughter upon hearing her question her own beauty and image, which she originally shared at the VMA Awards, were heard and seen as the audience breathed in its impact and meaning and roared back their approval of this powerful mother-daughter moment.
And continuously, P!NK expressed the authenticity she is known for and continuously strives to maintain. Between the genuine joy in her smile that could be seen throughout the night and the humor and personality she shared via thoughts and anecdotes on the mic, her true love for the stage and for her art shown through. P!NK showed up completely on Wednesday night, demonstrating her breadth as an artist through amazing theatrics, choreography, musicality, acrobatics and a commanding set of genuine pipes. The audience filtered out of the venue at the end of the night impassioned and inspired, knowing they had just witnessed a legendary performance.