As I sit down to write this, I’m visibly nervous. I’m sure I can’t capture the magic that was Phoebe Bridgers at Ball Arena in a humble post on a small record store’s blog, but I’m going to try, primarily because Phoebe and her team deserve all the accolades in the world for what they’ve created.
Admittedly, I’ve had a hard time connecting at concerts recently. At larger venues like Red Rocks or even Mission Ballroom, I’ve struggled to feel close to the musician and their art. Because of my neurodiversity, I’ve felt an insane amount of anxiety at the prospect of even attending a concert. The sensory overload alone could make me skip a show, not to mention that I can’t stand for extended periods because of a bad back and hip from years of dancing.
Don’t worry, there’s a point here, and I’ll make it soon. Taking all of that into account, plus the fact that I’d never been to this venue for a concert and was going alone, I still got on my Veo and scooted over to Ball Arena, mentally preparing to take my phone and Apple Watch out of the equation.
I’m a phone addict for sure, so as I walked up and locked my phone in its comfy home, the anxiety intensified, especially as it kept vibrating. (For future folks: turn your phone off and wear a watch!) But props to Ball. It was a seamless process, and I got into the venue easily (and got the merch I wanted; the lines at 8:30 p.m. were SHORT!).
I sat down in my row and, to my pleasant surprise, was surrounded by solo concertgoers. Because none of us had phones, we actually talked! It was lovely.
Enough about me and my journey, though. Let’s get to the point. Phoebe Bridgers was incredible: an ethereal alien being with the stage presence of someone far older. The set design was out of this world, with solar system motifs as a main element.
There are two types of concerts you can go to these days. Either the artist digs into their deepest cuts and you’re left wondering if you really like them, or the artist understands the concept of “play the hits!” Phoebe’s set list was the perfect combination of older hits and her new classics.
As someone who believes Lost Weekend is the album of the year, I loved hearing songs like “The Governor’s Waltz” and “Bobby,” and “As Above” was life-changing. But I was surprised at how emotional I got hearing “Graceland Too” and “Moon Song,” two of my oldest favorites.
I don’t want to give away too much of what happened, and I don’t want to undercut the spirit of Phoebe’s request that we go phoneless. But credit where credit is due: this was one of the best concerts I’ve ever attended. The flawless execution, beautiful songs, and incredible backing band made for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
