NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
What else can we say about Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour that hasn’t already been said? Besides the monumental scale of the tour, each show is over three hours long, with a massive stage having to be built and torn down at each stop, and comprising of ten acts with multiple costume changes and colors representing various “eras” of her career. In addition, when the tickets actually went on sale, the demand crashed Ticketmaster’s servers with everyone pointing the blame at everyone else. Demand continues to be strong and, unlike Robert Smith demanding that the Cure’s tickets could only be sold at face value, Swift’s tickets (as of Monday night) for her two shows at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on June 16th and 17th were selling on reseller sites starting around $1,000 for the cheapest seats at the upper level to one ticket that’s going for a mind-boggling $24K!! For all the stops in major metropolitan areas, city officials have had to account for Swifties taking over the city and its surroundings, making traffic and parking impossible and pushing hotel prices to exorbitant numbers. But each tour stop has been nothing but positive for all involved unless you were in those cities for other business and had to deal with the hotels, traffic and parking. Just One More Concert was fortunate to cover the first of Taylor Swift’s shows at Acrisure Stadium on June 16th.
Fans had taken over the North Shore hours before doors. Swifties of all ages could be seen donning their favorite era outfit, with sequined dresses dominating the costumes. Families with little girls, mothers and grandmothers were likewise dressed. The scene was an incredibly joyous one with everyone having a great time just being there. The trucks selling Taylor Swift merchandise were open early and the queues were so long that I thought they were for entry into the stadium!! There was a brief downpour a couple of hours before doors but the sun cleared as if commanded by Taylor Swift’s tour manager! Rain was NOT going to spoil this evening! Upon entering the venue, everyone was given a bracelet that would light up by remote control. This tour did seem to think of everything!
The early opener was LA-based singer/songwriter Gracie Abrams (yes, the daughter of film director/producer JJ Abrams). Her debut album “Good Riddance” was just released in February, after which she embarked on a US headlining tour. She worked on her album with The National’s Aaron Dessner, who also happened to have worked with Taylor Swift on ”folklore”! Abrams has a lovely voice and seemed to thoroughly enjoy her time on stage opening for Swift. Better keep an eye on this young artist!
Click on photos to enlarge
Next up was Norwegian indie rocker girl in red (aka Marie Ulven Ringheim). I had recently covered her set in Toronto at the Lavender Wild Festival (see here), a festival focused on 2SLGBTQ+ artists and music lovers. Some complained that some of the language girl in red used on-stage was inappropriate for some of the younger audience members but it seems that Taylor Swift’s principle of inclusivity would include girl in red. Besides, if girl in red is one of Swift’s favorite artists, that’s good enough for me. That plus her high energy set is a sight to behold. She does not stop moving and, with her band of head banging musicians, you just can’t take your eyes away.
Click on photos to enlarge
As for Taylor Swift’s three hours plus set, it’s been spoken of plenty but we can cover a few bits. First her entrance: I don’t think I’ve seen a better one. Dancers enter the stadium with what I can only describe as giant multi-colored parachutes. After the come together, Taylor Swift is revealed when they open their chutes back up. She is lifted on a platform in the center diamond stage as she kicks off the show with an abbreviated version of “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince”.
Click on photos to enlarge
We won’t go song by song since the setlist has been well dissected and analyzed extensively. The highlight of the evening was probably, “Mr. Perfectly Fine”, the “surprise song” that she played on acoustic guitar. It was towards the end of a perfect night of music. The final songs were “Mastermind” and “Karma”, ending the night with fireworks over the stadium!!
End to end, the production of this show was flawless from the moving elevated platforms to incredible “folklore cabin” to the video backgrounds of a train, a wedding or just live video of Swift as she performs. The sound was also impeccable. Let’s not forget Swift’s beautiful outfits; gorgeous outfits for an even more lovely woman. I believe that her “Enchanted” era ball gown probably garnered the biggest cheers.
The biggest revelation of all was the incredible audience in Acrisure Stadium. It’s amazing enough for over seventy thousand people to be gathered in one place to see a performer, it’s another to watch them be completely in sync, whether it’s singing along to Swift, waving their arms back and forth, or bringing their phones flashlights up for a slow song. It’s almost as if the wristbands given out upon entry weren’t the only things being controlled remotely. But it’s the smile and screams of joy that reverberated.
And Taylor Swift was in full control the entire show. This is a woman at the very top of her game! Besides her standout vocals, she had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand, constantly flirting, twirling her hair and giving fans sly smiles. Was it all planned and choreographed? Perhaps…except for having to blow her nose. As it was, her performances of “The Man” in the office setting and “Tolerate It” at the dinner table show her acting chops. Perhaps when she decides to move on from music, we’ll see her on the stage (the other stage) or on the big screen (the other big screen).
Click on photos to enlarge
The photos are incredible! I feel like I was there
Thank you! 🙏🏼