Seventeen-year-old New Zealand born singer-songwriter and Grammy award-winner Ella Yelich-O’Connor (aka Lorde) performed at The Fillmore Detroit on Sunday March 16, which apparently sold out in five minutes. The tour, was in support of her debut studio album “Pure Heroine.”
Matthew Hemerlein (known as Lo-Fang), flooded with purple lights, opened the show. Hermerlein played the violin throughout his set over very ambient, subdued, UK Bass sounds. While playing the violin in such a setting could be deemed romantic or, in the genre, a textural wild card, the output wasn’t as strong. A fan described the violin performance as “basic” he played primarily whole notes.
Lorde opened her 70-minute, 14-song set by walking on the black curtain draped stage, wearing a dark gown and black lipstick as a bright spotlight shined on her. Despite her age, it was very apparent by her stage presence that she had a confidently professional aura about her; other singers her age rarely show this quality. She didn’t need flashy lights to make a bold entrance.
The Fillmore proved to be a prime concert venue to house the sold-out event. Stage design (behind the black curtain in the beginning of the show) featured an old style theater with velvet drapes and gold leafed molding surrounding three projector screens. A high point of the light show was in the third song when green and purple lights shined onto her from all directions forcing fans eyes to her as a centerpiece on stage but also to a beautiful chandelier that hung over Lorde at the top of the stage. The lighting could rival some of the electronic dance music shows I’ve had the opportunity to cover– it was a very royalesque sight.
O’Connor had a consistently engaging show during the set with her rather unique dance moves (of which are hard to describe); but towards the end, things started to slow down when she took what seemed like a whole five minutes just making an intro to her song “Ribs.” Fans could hardly understand what she was talking about and only picked up words and phrases here and there. At the end of the speech, O’Connor finished with a “so thank you.” A fan nearby was heard saying, “her accent isn’t even sexy.”
I’d like to add in a big point of opinion. Contrary to the general media consensus, I believe O’Connor had a good performance for “Royals.” Several reviewers (including O’Connor herself) have said the song has been too overplayed and is starting to dry out. Listening to the song live, I can understand this point but I personally enjoyed the performance.
After a change into a gold gown and a massive performance of “Team,” an explosion of confetti, complimented by flashing pink and white lights, rained down on the crowd.
While there were high points in the show, Lorde’s exit wasn’t as bold as her entrance. After performing “A World Alone” she did not do an encore. As the house lights came on, several fans became confused. “That was the end of the show?” was a question and feeling you could get from the crowd, who was left wanting more.
