On the morning of the first night of the Guts World tour at Madison Square Garden, a confusing 4.8 magnitude earthquake ripped through New York. A few minutes later, the famous arena he tweeted by his official account, “this was just the land being prepared Olivia Rodrigo tonight.”
It was just right, as far as the 21-year-old pop star's fans were concerned. More than 14,000 of them turned out in purple hues and sequins to watch Rodrigo make her debut at one of the country's biggest career milestones on Friday night (April 5), something that's been a long time coming for the star since she found almost instant worldwide success with Get angry in 2021. (Not wanting to “skip steps,” as he put it Advertising sign at the time, the singer stuck to smaller theaters for her first tour in '22. Now, me a second chart-topping album to her credit thanks to last year OffalRodrigo is more than ready for not just one, but four sold-out shows at the Garden, the remaining three of which are scheduled for April 6, 8, and 9.)
Having previously briefly joined Billy Joel at one of MSG's 2022 shows to duet her own hit, “Deja Vu,” as well as “Uptown Girl,” Rodrigo already had some familiarity with the venues — plus , having been on the road for a month after her show opened in Palm Springs on Feb. 23, her hour-and-a-half venture was already a well-oiled machine by the time it arrived in New York. Even so, the reigning pop princess took to the stage looking on in genuine amazement as her crowd jumped, danced and screamed along to her first number – 'Bad Idea Right?' — making the entire arena pulse, this time without any help from shifting tectonic plates.
From a special guest performance (hello, Noah Kahan!) to a mini surprise High School Musical reunion, see the 8 best moments from the show that followed below.
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Hello Madison Square
Early in her set, Rodrigo took a moment to acknowledge the size of the night's hallowed venue, where most artists only dream of playing. “This is a very special night — my first night at Madison Square Garden,” she gasped, brown eyes wide as she was overwhelmed by the sea of fans before her. “It's unbelievable. I'm so excited. Tonight is going to be so much fun.”
The artist's return to New York – which she later claimed was the “greatest city in the world” – was made all the more special by the fact that most of the songs on the show were written there, as she now lives in an apartment in Greenwich Village. “I'm very, very grateful that you're here,” he added. “Thank you very much.”
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Girls your age know better
While singing her Billboard Hot 100-top Offal Lead single “Vampire,” Rodrigo had the crowd singing along—no, scream — the line, “Girls your age know better.”
With a crowd full of girls much younger than her in attendance, it was a small but profound way for the pop star to highlight which suitors to avoid — hopefully saving many of the kids in homemade t-shirts and face paint from falling into the same traps that did as they grow older.
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Breeders get their flowers
Rodrigo's Madison Square premiere also marked The Breeders' first appearance as the Guts tour. After their set, before accompanying herself to the piano to sing “Teenage Dream,” the headliner made sure to give flowers to '90s rock figures.
“How incredible were the Breeders?” he said smiling. “I'm such a big fan. I remember my life in two distinct periods: before I heard 'Cannonball' and after I heard 'Cannonball'. It's a great honor to play this show with them.”
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The earthquake of everything
Of course, Rodrigo had to take a second to address the elephant in the room. While flying high above the heads of the crowd on the floating crescent moon set, in which he sings the Offal and Get angry Of sister ballads “Sense” and “Enough For You,” the musician said, “All I can think about is I'm glad the earthquake didn't happen when I was in this thing.”
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A Mini 'High School Musical' Reunion
Between songs, Rodrigo took some time to interact with the crowd, at one point calling out a group of elementary-aged girls in matching purple dresses. “Look at these sweets! How sweet! I love little best friends.”
Then, while asking if any of her fans had come to the show with their mothers, the former Disney star spotted her own TV mom: Michelle Noh, who played one of her character's parents. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. “Oh my God!” she was chirping. “It's crazy — speaking of moms — she was playing my mom High School Musical! I didn't know you were here. Oh my god, this is amazing. Wow, that's such a meta moment, we actually didn't plan for it.”
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Noah Kahan makes a cameo
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the night came mid-show, when Rodrigo brought out special guest Noah Kahan for a live duet that fans have been craving since the “Good 4 U” singer covered the New England native's hit “Stick Season' on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge in October.
“I'm looking forward to this whole tour,” Rodrigo said before Kahan left. “There's this artist that I really love, and I found his music about a year ago and I was instantly obsessed. He's an incredible songwriter, an incredible singer.”
After sharing a hug, the two performers played guitars as they traded verses from the lyrics to 'Stick Season', their voices blending in harmony during the chorus. “Noah Kahan, everyone!” Rodrigo cheered as the folk singer exited the stage.
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Happy birthday, Moa
One of the best parts of Rodrigo's show was her palpably strong friendships with her all-female band. During a break between songs, bassist Moa Munoz – who had her big moment playing a solo riff on “Jealousy, Jealousy” at another point – made sure she got a well-deserved birthday celebration by taking over the entire arena for to feel good. the group sings along to “Happy Birthday”.
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Carrie Bradshaw AF
Rodrigo paid a final tribute to New York by taking the stage for encore performances of “Good 4 U” and “Get Him Back!” in a tank top that says 'Carrie Bradshaw AF'.
As the Sex and the city the leading lady might say: And just like that… Liv's first appearance at the Garden was in the books.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/olivia-rodrigo-guts-madison-square-garden-debut-best-moments/
