Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo brought the house down April 9 at Madison Square Garden (MSG), marking the last of four sold-out shows at the famed arena for her ongoing world tour. Fans decked out in purple, sequins and feather-trimmed cowboy hats filled the venue, eager to sing along to Rodrigo’s angsty 2023 pop-rock album “Guts.”
After an opening set from 90s alternative rock favorites The Breeders, Rodrigo’s crowd of young, spirited supporters screamed with excitement as four 3D candles — spelling out “GUTS,” of course — were projected on stage. When the wax melted, Rodrigo made her much-anticipated appearance.
Electric guitars crashed as a platform lifted Rodrigo to center stage, kicking off the show with her upbeat single “Bad Idea Right?” Decked out in a sparkling silver outfit for the start of the show, Rodrigo worked the full stage from the moment she appeared, sprinting from one catwalk to another, dancing with her musicians, and interacting with fans in the crowd.
Rodrigo’s setlist featured nearly every song from “Guts” and her debut album, “Sour,” plus a few surprises, including an unexpected duet with special guest, Jewel. Backed by eight skilled backup dancers and eye-catching effects — a significant upgrade in production value from her 2022 Sour Tour — Rodrigo put on a dazzling show, radiating confidence throughout.
Whether seated at a grand piano, shredding on the electric guitar or floating on a giant crescent moon above the crowd, Rodrigo brought an electrifying energy to the MSG stage. Her seamless transitions between heart-wrenching ballads and early 2000s-style pop-rock anthems kept the audience on the edge of their seats. As star-shaped confetti rained from the arena ceiling throughout the final notes of “Get Him Back!,” Rodrigo danced her way backstage, triumphantly closing a show that certainly solidified her superstar status.
Rodrigo will return to the U.S. for a short time this summer, following the European leg of her 2024 world tour.
