Taylor Swift Triumphs Over Snakes In Her First Show At US Bank Stadium

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To quote a Taylor Swift song (And parents everywhere) “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” – Much has been written about how Swift’s “Bad Reputation” tour has tickets remaining the day of her show and how her efforts to keep large ticket blocks from being scooped up by scalpers for resale at inflated prices have confused fans. But let’s face facts: By Sunday 80,000 people will have seen her 2 shows at US Bank Stadium. To translate that into other venues, that’s 5+ sold out shows at the Xcel or Target Center, 10+ shows at the Armory, 50 shows at First Ave, or a year’s worth of sold out shows at the Entry.

For those of us who work in the restaurant business, each concert has a distinct feel in the crowd that visits our establishments before and after the event. Last night’s guests were excited, friendly and for lack of a better word: NICE

British singer Charli XCX opened the show. She must have heard stories about the leaky roof in the old Metrodome as she came prepared in a rain coat.

Camila Cabello donned a Vikings jersey for her performance (a bit of a contrast to the sparkle and black of her last performance at the State Theatre). Here performance was not impacted by that change and was a energetic and sultry as we remembered. Maybe the Vikings should consider putting her on the field for a few plays, at the very least it would be quite distracting to the opposing team.

Swift took to the stage with Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” in a sea of red from LED wristbands that were handed out to fans as the streamed into US Bank Stadium. As fitting the large venue the setup was massive with 2 satellite stages, video screens, effects and plenty of dancers to make for stunning visuals. There was plethora of snakes (the inflatable kind – real ones are not allowed at US Bank stadium and the haters that they represent won’t buy tickets). Gimmicky? Sure. But fun as heck.

Swift’s setlist was heavy on her latest album and it’s synthy, a bit harder sound, but the hits that made her the mega star she is were of course included and getting Charli XCX and Camila Cabello to join her on stage for “Shake it off” took that song over the top. If there was anything in that whole venue that did not get shaken off during that number, it must have been super glued on.

For all the dazzling lights, smoke blasts and a water fountain (a first at US Bank Stadium?) Taylor Swift created an almost intimate connection to fans. Whether she was surrounded by a dancers or on stage just by herself with a guitar, she never felt unapproachable. The slick production supported her rather than overpowered her performance. Transitions between stages and acts were seamless and gave a glimpse on how much effort, planning and rehearsing goes into a production of that caliber.

As 40.000+ smiling fans streamed out into the muggy late summer night smiles, I for one believe there were quite a few thinking about how to score tickets for Saturday’s show. And if you are one of the lucky ones with going tonight, get there in time for the openers – both are well worth your time.

Act 1

  • …Ready for It?
  • I Did Something Bad
  • Gorgeous
  • Style / Love Story / You Belong With Me

Act 2

  • Look What You Made Me Do
  • End Game
  • King of My Heart

Act 3

  • Delicate
  • Shake It Off (with Charli XCX and Camila Cabello)
  • Dancing With Our Hands Tied
  • Begin Again (Acoustic; Tour debut)

Act 4

  • Blank Space
  • Dress
  • Bad Blood / Should’ve Said No

Act 5

  • Don’t Blame Me
  • Long Live / New Year’s Day (On piano)

Act 6

  • Getaway Car
  • Call It What You Want
  • We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together / This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

 

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