Phoebe Bridgers’ long-awaited headlining tour stopped at Bridgestone Arena for a two-night run in the heart of Music City. Not even the rainy weather from Hurricane Isaias kept fans from camping early at the venue for pit wristbands, some as early as 6 a.m. By evening, entry lines wrapped around the building and crawled onto Broadway as eager fans poured into the arena. The night began with a set from Alex G, a friend of Bridgers’ and an album collaborator. Soon after, Bridgers’ set began with the intro track “The Outside,” leading into “Motion Sickness,” from her 2017 debut studio album "Stranger in the Alps". As Bridgers began playing, the massive planetarium dome on the main stage rose, revealing her and the band. During “Governor’s Waltz,” it tilted over, exposing the underside of the dome, and served as a backdrop for projected visuals of planets, perfectly in theme with the album’s cosmic themes. She then dove into “Moon Song” and “Garden Song,” two of my most-played tracks from her album Punisher.
Bridgers then moved to the B stage and followed up with music from her Lost Weekend album before her string quartet joined to play “Funeral” and “Graceland Too.” Bridgers told the crowd that the Lost Weekend album was released after her father passed and thanked everyone for putting away their phones to be part of the experience. Bridgers’ team enforced the tour’s strict “no technology” rule with Yondr pouches. Every attendee was required to seal their phone into a pouch upon entrance to the venue. Growing up in the digital era, it is almost expected to see phones glued to hands during a concert. It was beautiful to see an arena full of people without a single phone turned on. During “Graceland Too,” fans held lighters instead of phone flashlights. Seeing the fans’ commitment and dedication to a tech-free concert experience was endearing and made the listening experience even more enjoyable. After her speech, she dove into “Still Standing” and “As Above” before returning to the main stage. Bridgers then continued with my all-time favorite song of hers, “Waiting Room.” On this tour, Bridgers has alternated between playing “Georgia” and “Waiting Room,” two songs she has not sung often at previous shows, allowing fans to hear them live. Each night of Bridgers’ tour, she has also picked out a surprise song to be added to the setlist. For Nashville night one, that surprise song was “Best Dressed,” a song from Lost Weekend that is only available on the vinyl record copies. Bridgers invited her best friend, Christian Lee Hutson, to perform a slowed version of the song, which was quite different from its original production style. A true highlight of the night was “I Know the End.” Towards the end of the song, the crowd joined Bridgers in a series of screams. The fans sitting around me screamed along with her, joining in with the chaos of the song’s ending.
The last song Bridgers sang was “Scott Street,” one of the most-streamed songs in her discography. As the song played, fans waved both hands in the air, saying goodbye to Bridgers herself and ending the show. The lights turned on with “Never Going Back!” playing, and fans slowly trickled out of the venue, unlocking Yondr pouches on their way out. Having seen Bridgers three times now, this was by far her best performance. The production and lighting design were impressive and beautifully true to Bridgers as an artist and her new album. The no-phone policy made Bridgestone Arena feel homey and intimate, a difficult feat for a venue that large. Bridgers' tour continued with another night in Nashville, and we can only hope that she returns to Music City soon.
- Sharmila Adapa
