I have been rooting for Kesha since 2009 when she still had a $ in her name and her breakout hit Tik Tok was everywhere. After its release, the song broke the record for the best-selling digital single in history. Fun facts: before bursting onto the pop scene with Tik Tok and her number one album, Animal, Kesha also appeared in the video for Katy Perry’s I Kissed A Girl and sang backup vocals on Britney’s song Lace And Leather. Her intentionally unpolished and unpretentious image resonated with fans across the globe; she was the ultimate party girl who delivered hit after energetic hit. Her fans rallied around her throughout her lengthy legal battle with her former producer, Dr Luke and rejoiced when she announced her new single, JOYRIDE, which was released on 4 July 2024 on her self-titled label, Kesha Records.
As if a brand new album (Period) wasn’t exciting enough, Kesha announced that she would be embarking on a joint arena-headlining tour with none other than Scissor Sisters (sans Anna Matronic unfortunately), titled The Tits Out Tour. She issued the following statement as part of the tour’s press release: “Our administration is so disembodied and disconnected. I’m going TITS OUT this summer to bring as much safety, fun, acceptance, love, connection and celebration to this country because we are just as much the fabric of this FREE nation as anyone else. We will not be quiet, and we will fight through joy!”
So my excitement levels were already off the charts when it was announced that Dutch Eurodance group Vengaboys would also be joining the lineup for the NYC show! I never expected to see them live, a group that was an integral part of my late teens and provided the soundtrack to many a night out with bangers like Up And Down, We Like To Party and Boom Boom Boom Boom. Vengaboys kicked things off at Madison Square Garden with a high energy performance and delivered the intercity disco that they’d promised us back in 1998.
Scissor Sisters kept the party going with a camp, high-energy performance in true Scissor Sisters style. Two new voices joined the original trio, Amber Martin and Bridget Barkan, who immediately won over the crowd, with Bridget calling for the crowd to “Get your tits out!” before launching into Tits On The Radio while Amber provided a slew of sassy lines and flashed her G-string. A pair of inflatable scissors stood proudly behind the band as they performed some of their biggest hits and, as they geared up for the encore, a pair of giant inflatable breasts rose on either side of the pair of scissors.
Then Mother arrived, wearing a sexy white bodysuit and holding a severed mannequin head resembling 2010’s Kesha, to rapturous applause from the audience. She kicked things off with an extended dance mix of Tik Tok and proceeded to perform a medley of her earlier hits, walking through the crowd while singing C’mon and Thinking Of You. She took us on a journey to freedom, a clear theme of the tour, in five acts filled with raunchy choreography, provocative costumes and empowering messages. As Chicago Sun Time’s Selena Fragassithis points out, it was more than a show of new and old hits - “It was a ritual, a cleansing, a woman reclaiming her powers and being reborn before our eyes”. After her first two encore songs, CATHEDRAL and Praying, she paused to take in the intense and extended cheering from the audience - I don’t remember ever hearing such an outpouring of love and support at a concert - which left her visibly emotional. She wrapped things up with We R Who We R, a perfect way to end an electrifying evening and drive home her message of perseverance, acceptance and freedom.
The complete Vengaboys setlist was as follows:
We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)
Party Rock Anthem
We're Going to Ibiza!
Sha-La-La-La-La
Kiss (When the Sun Don't Shine)
The Final Countdown / I Was Made for Loving You / Jump / I Love Rock n' Roll / We Will Rock You / What's Up? / Livin' on a Prayer
Up & Down
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!
We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)
The complete Scissor Sisters setlist was as follows:
Laura
She's My Man
Tits on the Radio
I Can't Decide
Take Your Mama
Running Out
Any Which Way
Comfortably Numb
Let's Have a Kiki
I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
Filthy/Gorgeous
Music Is the Victim
ACT I: ONE OF ONE
TiK ToK
Only Love Can Save Us Now
Warrior / Crazy Kids / C'Mon /Thinking of You
Out Alive (interlude)
ACT II: HEAVEN IN HELL
Sleazy
BOY CRAZY.
Cannibal
DELUSIONAL.
Take It Off
ACT III: GENIUS OR CRAZY?
Blow
The Drama
Fine Line
Ram Dass Interlude
Happy
Eat the Acid
FREEDOM. (interlude)
Act IV: FREEDOM CUNT
ATTENTION!
JOYRIDE.
YIPPEE-KI-YAY.
Timber
RED FLAG.
Dinosaur
THE ONE.
Die Young
ACT V: PERIOD.
CATHEDRAL.
Praying
Your Love Is My Drug
We R Who We R
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