The atmosphere in Melbourne was electric last night as Olivia Rodrigo kicked off the first of her four highly anticipated shows at Rod Laver Arena. Since the tour was announced earlier this year, fans have eagerly waited for their chance to see the pop sensation, with tickets selling out in minutes. By showtime, eager crowds flocked to the venue, including some hopefuls without tickets, keen to catch a glimpse or at least hear Rodrigo’s voice echoing outside.
The night started with a fantastic performance from New Zealand artist BENEE, who set the tone with her vibrant energy and stunning vocals. While I’ve always been a fan of her music, hearing her live was a whole new experience. The crowd was already buzzing, and Benee’s set had the early arrivals on their feet, ready for the main event.
At exactly 8:30 p.m., Olivia Rodrigo took the stage, wasting no time as she launched into “bad idea right?” from her 2023 album GUTS. The energy in the arena was electric, and fans poured their hearts into every song. Rodrigo’s vocals were impeccable, particularly during powerhouse tracks like “vampire”, Traitor” and, of course, the iconic “Drivers License”.
During a heartfelt moment, Olivia paused to express her gratitude to the Melbourne audience, making a point to mention it was her first time in the city. It was clear that her connection with the crowd was genuine and deeply appreciated, although at times the talk-breaks did feel quite scripted.
Midway through the set, things slowed down with a series of ballads. While they were beautifully performed, I felt that trimming a couple of these slower tracks might have kept the energy flowing more consistently. It was during the slower set, however, that Olivia flew across the crowd on a giant crescent-shaped moon, making sure to wave and interact with each section. As soon as “so american” kicked in, the momentum returned, and the vibes were so back.
The production throughout the show was great, with amazing graphics, dazzling costumes and rising/floating platforms. Rodrigo’s band and dancers were perfectly in sync, elevating the entire performance to another level.
One of the standout moments for me was her performance of “deja vu” along with the final three songs before the encore: “brutal” , “obsessed”, and “all-american bitch”. If you know these tracks, you can imagine how thrilling they are live. Dancing with complete strangers to these songs was an unforgettable experience and a definite highlight of the night.
The encore brought the night to a close with a bang, featuring “Good 4 U” from her debut album and “get him back” complete with a final explosion of confetti. The energy was absolutely off the charts.
It was genuinely moving to see a young artist command the stage with such confidence and talent. Olivia Rodrigo’s success is undeniably well-earned, and seeing her live only reinforced that for me.
If you have the chance to snag any last-minute tickets, I highly recommend it. This show was nothing short of phenomenal!
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Olivia Rodrigo’s tour continues tonight at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, before heading to Sydney next Thursday. Head HERE for any possible last minute tickets.
Header image credit: Lauri Jean / Rod Laver Arena
