![]() ![]() Eilish’s brother famously plays almost as big a part in her musical success as herself, but onstage he is remarkably reserved whenever the camera zooms in on his face and fans bellow their appreciation, a stoic look rarely leaves his face. Halfway through her set, Eilish brings Finneas down from his perch to perform three acoustic songs together. When Eilish implores everyone to get out of their seats and start jumping up and down with her, the call is gleefully taken up en masse. There are plenty of young fans, huge pockets of prevailing teenagers, but also a lot of older attendees, all singing every song with just as much gusto as those younger than them. Looking around the arena, the diverse demographic stands out. For a person who’s publicly detailed their struggles with body issues in the past, she performs with a positive level of comfort, playfully writhing along the stage walkway, every contorted movement being met by wild cheers from the 10,000-strong crowd. The sense of Spark Arena being a safe space for Eilish herself becomes evident as the show progresses. There’s a proud shoutout for her opener Dora Jar, who possesses the vivacity and lyrical talent that should ensure she’s a Gen Z alt-pop star to watch in the coming years, while she tells everyone that she has just three important rules for the night ahead: “Don’t be an asshole, don’t judge anybody in here, and have fun motherf*ckers,” she shouts, a trio of rules that will be unanimously upheld by the crowd. ![]() Eilish’s soft, whispering vocals arguably suit a slightly smaller venue, but when her voice falters – as it does – it’s immediately offset by her winning confidence and effortless charisma.Īfter an incessant flurry of songs, Eilish finally pauses to address her fans. On the screen above them, tantalising visuals are displayed throughout, some of them mysterious, a lot of them creepy, and some of them sweet.Įilish is touring in support of her second studio album, Happier Than Ever, which featured a more downtempo atmosphere than her lively debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, but even a languorous song like “Billie Bossa Nova” doesn’t feel lost amidst the cavernous setting. A steep ramp leads to the only other two musicians onstage, Eilish’s brother Finneas – more on him later – on guitar and piano and Andrew on drums. Wearing just a black baggy t-shirt and shorts, her energy is relaxed as she zips around the sparse stage. As soon as she swirls up from an ascending platform, the expectant Kiwi crowd – many of whom have been chanting her name for a long time – is in thrall to this returning pop superstar. And watching her onstage at Spark Arena, it’s difficult to believe that such self-assured stage command could come from a 20-year-old. She’s won several Grammy Awards, made Glastonbury history, and even earned an Academy Award, all before she can legally drink in her home country. A lot has changed for Eilish in the intervening three years.
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