Swedish alternative/indie singer Tove Lo performed at The Anthem on Sept. 14, with singer-songwriter Upsahl joining as the opening act.
I had only seen Tove Lo for a short set during Jingle Ball 2015, so I was excited to see a long-form version of her incredible talents.
Tour Info!
Right now, Tove Lo is on her final North American leg of the ‘Dirt Femme’ tour, inspired by her recent album sharing the same title. The tour started on Sept. 5 in St. Paul, Minn., and is set to end on Oct. 14 in Austin, Texas.
The setlist is composed of 16 songs, including popular hits “Cool Girl” and “Moments,” and new songs such as “Grapefruit” and “Borderline.” Similar to other artists, Tove Lo returns for an encore, performing her viral song “Habits (Stay High)” and two others.
Both artists started exactly on time, which is something that I felt was lacking in other concerts I’ve experienced. Upsahl started right at 8:00 p.m., and Tove Lo started around 9:00 p.m.
Opening Act: Upsahl
Let’s talk about the opener for this show, Upsahl, whose real name is Taylor Cameron Upsahl.
Her setlist consisted of nine songs, which included the song “Toast” written with Tove Lo. I had never heard of Upsahl before, but her performance was amazing. Her stage presence, vocals and energy are likely why Tove Lo chose the artist to open for her.
There were many memorable parts of her set, including when she covered “That’s Not My Name” by The Ting Tings, as well as when her and her guitarist shared an iconic moment where they played their guitars together, leaning against one another on stage.
Now…Tove Lo!!
The crowd is screaming as flashing lights blessed the stage, signaling that Tove Lo is about to begin. The opening notes to her single “Pineapple Slice” off her new album start to play, making the crowd even more excited as she begins to sing.
I thought this song was a fantastic opener because it is her most thrilling song on the new album and is a crowd favorite. My friend and I were immediately singing along and having a great time, despite there being many more songs left.
Tove Lo wore three outfits during the show: a gold bodysuit, a light green two piece and a black bodysuit. I loved that when she went to change her outfit, the band was still playing music and keeping us fans entertained.
Throughout the show, Tove Lo set aside time to talk to the audience, discussing the different songs and how much they meant to her journey as an artist. She explained that there would be some really sad songs, but then songs to which we could dance and scream. I enjoyed the variety of the songs – some of her most vulnerable songs are my favorite, but I also love her energetic songs that made her who she is today, like “Talking Body” off her debut album “Queen Of The Clouds.”
Towards the end of the show, Tove Lo brought out Upsahl to sing the song “Toast” once again for the encore, except this time a more stripped back, emotional version. This part of the show was one of my favorites, as I was brought to tears by this stunning performance. Tove Lo then continued the encore, performing “Habits (Stay High)” and “No One Dies From Love.”
Overall, the show was incredible. I was really close to the stage, which definitely made the experience that much better. Besides that, the environment was one I will never forget; Tove Lo’s fanbase is truly amazing, from everyone dancing to every song to screaming all the lyrics at the top of their lungs.
Tove Lo is one of the best vocalists I have seen live, so if you ever have the opportunity to see her in concert, I highly recommend getting those tickets!