Tove Lo Brings the Thunder and Lightning at Pier 17 NYC

BY CALLIE SOLBERG (SHE/HER)

The sky and stage was alive this past Sunday, September 9th, at Pier 17 in New York City, where artist Tove Lo brought thunder, lightning and plenty of electricity. The first leg of the Dirt Femme tour saw Tove Lo perform in Queens in early February at the Knockdown Center. Before the first show the singer-songwriter tweeted, “It’s going to be magic, so you know, MANDATORY PRESENCE” and Sunday's show was nothing short of exactly that.

The Rooftop at Pier 17 boasts a stunning 360 degree view of the New York City skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. The crowd was thrumming with energy as the sun began to sink in the distance. Fans eagerly discussed which songs they hoped to hear and compared previous experiences attending Tove Lo shows. As they waited, many people in the crowd checked their weather apps, glancing skyward and murmuring about the impending rain.

The energy on the rooftop rose as soon as opener Upsahl took the stage, clad in a white tracksuit. The 24-year-old American singer and songwriter jumped around the stage, shaking her wavy dark red hair to the pumping beats of her popular hits such as “People I Don’t Like” and “Drugs”. Her performance was met with cheers and whooping from the appreciative crowd who swayed and fist pumped to the upbeat music.

VIDEO COURTESY OF JENWHYSEE

A light rain began to fall as the band took their places on the dark stage for the main show. Rhythmic strobe lights began to flow as a synth vibration began to boom from the speakers. As the beat dropped for the opening song, “Pineapple Slice”, Tove Lo glided onto stage, bathed in neon blue and green lights. The stage was decked out with decorations in the form of rolling storm clouds, which complimented the evening's weather and surrounded the popstar as she flowed back and forth across the stage. In a teal, pink and purple metallic corset and knee-high white boots the singer was a vision from the very first note of the night.

Tove Lo kept the energy flowing as she continued with “Cool Girl” and “2 Die 4”, lit up with white light as the wind whipped her hair. After a short break she returned in a black, netted, full-body outfit and thigh-high leather boots. Immediately she launched into one of her most popular songs from her Queen of the Clouds album, “Talking Body”. The crowd rocked along to the catchy hit, screaming along to the lyrics. The hype continued with “disco tits”, which the artist noted just hit its sixth anniversary.

Between songs Tove Lo took a moment to express her appreciation for the amazing view, recalling that New York City is where everything really took off for her. The crowd interaction at the show was inspiring. Fans sang along at the top of their lungs to every song and gave round after round of thunderous applause. Tove Lo beamed up on stage, putting her hand to her heart in gratitude and holding the mic out to the audience to complete certain lyrics. At one point she dismounted the stage and ran along the barrier, greeting the screaming fans with outstretched hands.

After the performer headed backstage to break, the crowd huddled under the steadily falling rain, wondering aloud if the show was over. Returning moments later to the stage in a metallic and black space age style bodysuit, the singer strutted beneath gleaming lights. As her recorded vocals began to pick up volume in the background she yelled to the crowd “This song changed my life! And you better sing every fucking word!” As the rain began to fall harder she kicked off the start of her most famous song, “Habits (Stay High)”. Lightning illuminated the sky behind the stage, creating a striking image as the singer belted “Gotta stay high, all my life, to forget I’m missing you.”

Tove Lo closed out the show with “No One Dies From Love” another crowd favorite. The audience jumped and sang along with the performer, the energy of the night at an all time high.Thanking the crowd and blowing a kiss to her fans, Tove Lo departed the stage, waving goodnight. The Dirt Femme Tour is ongoing with performances remaining in Georgia, Texas, D.C. and California. Tickets can be purchased online, availability is currently limited.