For the second time this year, Boston was transformed into the fabled Pink Pony Club for a special sold-out evening with Chappell Roan, the hottest name is queer pop. A sea of glittery pink cowboy hats, bedazzled jean jackets and a combination of red/black outfits filled the venue at the request of Roan’s handpicked theme for Boston, “My Kink Is Karma,” after her song of the same name. This time at the House of Blues, Chappell Roan is on tour to celebrate the release of her wildly successful debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
Originally from Missouri, the now LA-based singer has developed her own style of fun and flirty pop with ballad-like undertones rooted in her southern childhood. Her songs combine a perfect mixture of dance and indie pop with a hint of country folk that cover topics ranging from sexuality, broken hearts and the power of femininity. Chappell Roan’s popularity has skyrocketed over the past couple of years, due in part to a change in musical style, her queer style and the viral success of her energetic live shows.
Sticking to her roots, Roan took an unconventional approach with the opening act, opting to replace a band or singer with a drag show featuring local drag queens from each city. The stage became a dance floor for queens Kulfi Jaan, Tara Dikhof and Chanel the Angel, all of whom can be found at local drag venues. The celebration of queer art was topped off when one lucky audience member was brought up on stage and crowned the queen of the evening.
The excitement built in the crowd as the house music played club hits until Roan took the stage with her band and wasted no time getting the party started with “Femininominon” and “Red Wine Supernova.” Roan and her band had plenty of call-and-response parts rehearsed that the crowd joined in on, making the entire building seem like one big party, and no one was left out. The energy bounced from the stage to the crowd and back to the stage, made clear by the smile that would not leave Roan’s face.
Back in March, Roan told a brief story of her childhood dream to be a cheerleader and had to teach the crowd some brief choreography for “HOT TO GO!” Without missing a beat, the crowd mimicked a cheerleading squad, using their arms to spell out the letters of the song title in the chorus (think YMCA, but harder). It was charming to see Chappell Roan size up from the Sinclair to the House of Blues, and for the crowd to show up with the choreography memorized from last time.
“The Midwest Princess Tour” continues down the east coast and through to LA before Chappell Roan gears up to join Olivia Rodrigo at TD Garden next April.
CATCH CHAPPELL ROAN ON TOUR HERE!
LISTEN TO CHAPPELL ROAN HERE!
