How Could I ‘Snooze’ On This Moment? My SOS Tour Experience

I have had the chance to see the one and only singer SZA not once but twice this year, and it would be fun to reflect on these two surreal experiences. If you don’t already know, SZA is an R&B/pop/hip-hop singer-songwriter who toured North America this year after the release of her sophomore album, SOS, last December. She collaborated with other big-name artists, Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott, on her 2017 album CTRL. More recently, she has worked with Phoebe Bridgers and Justin Bieber. She continues to top the charts almost a year after her album was released, and seeing how much work she put into SOS and her tour, it is a well-deserved accomplishment. So, now I will get into the adventure of seeing SZA live in concert.

the setting

I saw SZA both times with one of my best friends in New York City, the first time at Madison Square Garden in March and at Barclay’s Center the second time in October. We did what everyone from Connecticut does when going into the city — romanticize the train ride into Grand Central by listening to “Welcome to New York” by Taylor Swift a bit too many times. Both times, we stayed at a hotel by the respective venues and had some downtime to get ready and relax before screaming our lungs out in just a few short hours. We grabbed some dinner and drinks at The Wilson, a seafood restaurant, and Patsy’s, a staple Italian spot (I highly recommend both). After eating some delicious food, it was time for us to make our way over to the venues.

the openers

The two artists who opened were Omar Apollo in March and d4vd in October. I was very excited about these two openers as I used to listen to both rarely, but seeing them live made me appreciate them so much more, and they are now on my regular playlist. Apollo, of course, played his hit song “Evergreen,” which was made famous thanks to TikTok. He also played “Kamikaze,” “Useless,” and “Tamagotchi,” all of which I highly recommend giving a listen. The stage presence and energy from Apollo radiated through the venue and were just right for setting the mood for the main event. d4vd, another artist made well-known by TikTok, was also fun to watch live. He sang his two famous songs, “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me,” which he brought his little sister out to sing with him. His vocal talent is phenomenal, and I’m so glad I got to see him and Apollo live, as I probably would’ve never considered seeing them before now.

the main event

After (impatiently) waiting around a half hour between the openers and SZA, it was time for the event that I had been hoping for for years. There is such an electric feeling when the lights go down and the crowd cheers and anxiously waits for the singer to take the stage. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest as the screen in which SZA was set up behind rose, and the track to “Seek and Destroy” started to play both times around. Right off the bat, you could tell how much work and rehearsal went into this tour as she and her backup dancers flawlessly performed their routines. SZA was not only performing, but she was telling a story. The set was, of course, nautical themed, matching the name of her album, including a boat and eye-catching ocean graphics. As SZA performed, she embarked on a journey throughout the concert as the set moved through scenes of a dock, a larger boat, and then a smaller lifeboat in which SZA floated over the crowd. It was magical seeing her trying to connect with as much of the audience as possible as she moved to the center of the arena.

I was already excited that SZA included one of my favorite songs in the set list, “Ghost in the Machine,” but when Phoebe Bridgers walked out on stage to sing her part, I nearly fell over. Their collaboration was unexpected to begin with, but to see them both perform together was everything to me. That was not the only guest that joined SZA. About halfway through the concert, she brought the one and only Cardi B. My friend and I couldn’t even tell who it was at first because the crowd got so loud, but then we both had our moment of realization. Cardi B was a fantastic performer, bringing much energy to the stage and audience.

Of course, the setlists differed a bit for both shows, but the logistics of each show were identical, which I didn’t mind. She sang her more popular songs she’s released recently, like “Kill Bill,” “Good Days,” and “Snooze.” A few of my favorites I got to see live were “Prom,” “Broken Clocks,” and “Special.”

These two concerts are some of the best shows I have gotten to experience. My friend and I had a pact that if SZA went on tour ever again, we had to go, and when she announced a second leg, it was a no-brainer decision to see her again. I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences, and I am manifesting for everyone to see their favorite artist soon.

• concerts
• d4vd
• music
• Omar Apollo
• SOS
• SZA