The up-and-coming musical artist Chappell Roan brought her brand of sparkles and self-love to Buckhead Theatre Tuesday night to promote her debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.”
Roan’s concert was an unapologetic celebration of LGBTQ+ joy, and her dynamic interaction with the audience made the show feel unique and authentic.
Three Atlanta drag queens – Drew Friday,Taylor Alxndr and Cookie Dlite – performed as the opening act.
“Drag has inspired my project in every single way,” Roan said during the concert.
Every element of the show, from the lighting to the costuming, created the atmosphere of Roan’s rainbow-splashed world.
Roan’s band consisted of a bassist, guitarist and drummer wearing matching kitschy rainbow outfits, with Crocs and those classically cheesy Las Vegas-style dresses that look like bikinis. Roan herself donned metallic cowboy boots that shifted color in the light, the perfect symbol of her Midwest Princess persona, and a colorful bodysuit.
“Flash the camera, flash the camera, flash the camera, you’re a star,” Roan sang during her performance of her song “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl.”
White spotlights flashed into the crowd as she sang, emulating the photoshoot she referenced in her lyrics and inviting the audience to be stars along with her.
Roan took a moment before she performed her song “HOT TO GO!” to teach the audience the “‘HOT TO GO!’ dance,” as she called it. The dance involved simple, “YMCA”-esque moves, with the crowd spelling out the lyrics with their arms.
These unique interactions are a large appeal of Roan’s shows. Even when she fumbled slightly in some way, the crowd cheered her on and laughed along with her.
During a stripped-back performance of “Coffee,” for example, Roan moved her mouth away from the microphone and said “that’s my fault” to her guitarist while giggling.
In addition to the numerous songs Roan performed from her debut album, she also sang “School Nights,” an edgier non-album single from 2018, because she wanted to honor her teenage self, according to Roan. The intensity of the band’s playing added an extra layer of depth to the live performance of “School Nights,” that the original recording, which reflects the Tumblr sensibilities of its release year, lacks.
Roan’s setlist also featured a cover of “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga.
After the initial performance was over and Roan left the stage, she did not wait long to return to her cheering fans for an encore.
“To think I almost had it going, but I let you down,” she sang during “California.”
She paused during a slow moment in the song. A pride flag waved in the pit. Someone in the crowd took the opportunity to scream out.
“You didn’t let anyone down,” they said.
Finally, Roan performed her most popular song, the one that launched her to stardom in the first place: “Pink Pony Club.” The drums reached their most thunderous levels yet, strong enough to feel from the floor of Buckhead Theatre’s upper balcony.
“I’m gonna keep on dancing,” Roan sang, wrapped in that same pride flag.
More information about Roan, her music and her tour can be found on her website. Buckhead Theatre’s upcoming schedule can be found on the organization’s website. Drew Friday, Taylor Alxndr and Cookie Dlite can be found on Instagram at @drewfriday_, @tayloralxndr and @cookiedlite, respectively.
