Thousands of fans in extravagant costumes and full-face makeup flocked to the MGM Music Hall as experimental pop icon, Melanie Martinez, brought her Portals tour to Boston. Joined by alt-indie act Tanukichan, Martinez is celebrating the release of her third full-length album, Portals, released on March 31st via the famed Atlantic Records.
Melanie Martinez has been one of the biggest names in the alternative pop and indie scene since 2012, when she was a contestant on season three of The Voice. Though she was eliminated following week five, her career had only just begun when she released her debut single, “Dollhouse,” in early 2014. The path of Martinez’s music career was set into motion at 19-years-old with an eclectic mix of hip-hop, art-pop and what has come to define her sound: “brooding, twisted lullabies.” She uses fantasized versions of real-life experiences to create a dark and somewhat creepy sound that her fans have come to grow and love.
Martinez is known for putting on a show, and this era of her career has brought performance to a whole new level. Decorated with foliage, inflatable mushrooms and a three-dimensional video backdrop, a crew of dancers meandered onto the stage whilst concealing Martinez in a cocoon of bodies. The intro track “DEATH” faded in as the crowd buzzed with the screams of 5,000 diehard fans, and the volume only increased when Martinez finally emerged to sing the opening line of the song: “They’re carving my name in the grave again.” The stage explodes with energy when they finally reach the cathartic chorus, met with intense dance choreography and the powerhouse vocals of Martinez.
The new era of Melanie Martinez finds her experimenting with her image; in contrast to her trademark split-dyeed hair from the Crybaby and K-12 days, she now dons a prosthetic mask, gloves and a bodysuit. The eerie and contorted looks provide a new image, but also emphasize the power and ability of her vocals in tandem with the stage performance. The unconventional setlist of this tour has Martinez exclusively performing songs from her new album in the exact order they were arranged on the record. Despite the predictability of the set, fans were treated to a carefully constructed stage act with multiple segments and meticulously designed visuals to compliment each track.
The Portals tour continues through summer and into early autumn before Melanie Martinez brings the show to Europe and Australia.
LISTEN TO MELANIE MARTINEZ HERE!
CATCH MELANIE MARTINEZ ON TOUR HERE!
