“Seeing you tonight? It’s a bad idea, right?”. The ‘Guts’ tour officially hits Sydney as the gen z’s very own punk rock princess Olivia Rodrigo explodes onto stage in a sparkling ensemble, opening the night with her hit single ‘Bad Idea Right?’ from her sophomore album ‘Guts’, a song that perfectly set the scene for the night with the five words “maybe I can fix him?”.
Since her hit single ‘Driver’s License’, Olivia’s life leapt from Disney stardom (starring in the hit series ‘High School Musical the Musical the Series’) to becoming the powerhouse pop icon she’s known as today. Her debut album ‘Sour’ instantly became a chart-topping success, dominating streaming platforms and garnering the hearts of millions worldwide. Her lyrical mix of teenage heartbreak and melodrama mixed with the hard hitting, distorted instrumentals instantly made her be known as a force to be reckoned with amongst the upcoming new artists of her generation, a sound that was seamlessly transitioned into her live performances.
The night went on like a theatrical spectacle, with Olivia creating moments within each part of the night highlighted by dynamic set designs and carefully curated outfit changes. Songs like “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl” and “Teenage Dream” offered us a rare glimpse into her own personal life, her super catchy and relatable lyrics echoing the room from the voices in the crowd. Lead single “Vampire” and “Making the Bed” gave us the signature Olivia ballads she’s known for while being backed by the absolutely gigantic wall of sound delivered from her band, while hard hitters “Pretty Isn’t Pretty” and “Traitor” showed us a more vulnerable side with themes that hit very close to home for a lot of the audience, seeing a piece of themselves in the sequin studded starlet.
Her set was broken into a mix of her upbeat and cheerful hits as well as some more intimate moments through her acoustic driven songs, with Olivia serenading the crowd through “Logical” and “Enough for You” sitting on the edge of the moon surrounded by a scene of stars. Her crowd engagement was next to none, the whole arena screaming in high pitch unison. Echoes of her lyrics bled through every seat, with “Déjà vu” and “Good 4 U” being personal standouts of the night, feet stomping and lungs running out of air as every person in the room (my posse and I very much included) yelled lyrics about revenge, heartbreak and longing so loud that by the end of the night, the only appropriate way to end the night was to look around and ask “Sydney, who hurt you?”
Olivia continues her performances at Qudos up until next Tuesday the 22nd of October – so on the chance that you luck out on Tixel, be sure to hit the glitter bar and be ready for a night full of beautifully chaotic catharsis.
Words: Ken Magno
Photography: Josh Ma
