It had been nearly nine months since November 15 – the day I managed to secure three face-value tickets amid Ticketmaster’s infamous meltdown to Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour concert in Los Angeles – when I finally got to see the show this week.
It had been nearly nine months since November 15 – the day I managed to secure three face-value tickets amid Ticketmaster’s infamous meltdown to Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour concert in Los Angeles – when I finally got to see the show this week.
The concert, which was the singer’s penultimate show on the first US leg of her tour, was the most impressive three hours and fifteen minutes of live music I’ve ever seen, purely based on her epic delivery of a fully loaded 44-song setlist. And it happened in an atmosphere that celebrated positivity, respect for others and an openness to connect with new friends.
It must be said that I fully knew what to expect at this concert. I have been writing about the “Eras” tour pretty regularly as both an outlet for my Swiftie-ness and just to bide my time until my show, so avoiding concert spoilers was impossible.
But it didn’t matter. Watching clips of the “Eras” tour opening sequence on social media – as I’d repeatedly done for months – could never compare to the feeling of being in the audience when the two-minute countdown clock started ticking as the crowd roared in anticipation for our “Anti-Hero” to appear.
I’d been planning logistics for my “Eras” show for months, as it became an “Alli’s Version” bachelorette party of sorts, which two of my best girlfriends and soon-to-be bridesmaids attended with me.
Clad in my “Reputation” era look, and flanked by my friends in their “Lover” and “Midnights” era outfits, we were on our way to the venue about four hours before Swift was set to go on to allow for ample time to get merch and catch her openers, Gracie Abrams and Haim.
The scene outside of SoFi Stadium was vibrant and palpable. Moms and daughters in matching costumes were seen posing for photos and we weaved through groups of sparkly concertgoers representing every era of Swift’s musical oeuvre until we finally found our entrance.
