Carly Rae Jepsen’s Pageant Performance Saturday was Musical Encapsulation of Happiness

–By Ashley Cox
–Photos by Sean Derrick/Thyrd Eye Photography
Fans poured into the Pageant on Saturday, July 6 for “The Dedicated Tour” to hear Carly Rae and her openers, Mansionair. The crowd was hard to define as it was filled with all ages, genders, orientations, and even fashion choices. We did have one thing in common; the ability to have a good time. I have seen Jepsen’s music described as a “guilty pleasure” or derisively called “bubblegum pop.” I feel bad for these people as they let the judgement of, and for, others dissuade them from enjoying something that is the musical encapsulation of happiness.

If you only know Carly Rae Jepsen from her 2012 MTV Song of the Year “Call Me Maybe,” you are missing out. Her third studio album Emotion and its tagalong EP Emotion: Side B has garnered almost cult-like following. Her most recent release Dedicated adds disco into the mix of bright pop and new-wave influences found on Emotion.

Opener Mansionair is a 3 piece band from Australia that has a wonderful chill vibe perfect for your next day at the pool. The ethereal nature is only amplified by singer Jack Froggatt’s soaring yet delicate vocals. I really wanted to like them more, and would under certain circumstances, but the indie electronic band is not what I was expecting before the solidly pop and bounce-y music of Jepsen. They lulled me into a mood for a hammock, gauzy fabric, and wine… not the glitter and sugar rush I had come for.

Carly came onto the stage with gleeful cheers to the opening bars of “No Drug Like Me” (listen to Masionair’s remix, by the way), in a see-through, black pantsuit adorned with large, 3D roses. I secretly had hoped she would start with the opening horns of “Run Away with Me” which is my internal music anytime I enter a room. Her vocals were spot on the entire night. Since her breakaway hit “Call Me Maybe” does not showcase her full vocal range, it sneaks up on you like a housecat, sweet but powerful.

The stage design was limited. A large disco ball as a nod to the disco influences that Dedicated originally was going to showcase before Carly expanded the sound. Other small screens and lighting fixtures accented the show but the focus was on Carly’s adorable dancing, hair flips, and interactions with the crowd. Fashion-wise, Jepsen changed outfits once from the rose ensemble to a flame-adorned wetsuit (does she not sweat? I would be a monster) with a pleather jacket. The band and back-up singers wore all black, with red lipstick and a blinding highlighter on the cheek for the ladies.

Highlights of the show also included: my favorite “Boy Problems”, “Store”, “Julien” and “Fever” which has not been featured on the setlist at other shows. Shout out to the journalist earlier in the day who asked Carly if she actually stole that bike! The show finished with an explosion of confetti as the crowd danced wildly to “Cut to the Feeling” one of the unofficial songs of Pride due to its use in Mark Kanemura’s (@mKIK808) iconic rainbow wig reveal video on Instagram.
Be sure to check out the rest of the photos from the night after the setlist.
Setlist:
- No Drug Like Me
- E·MO·TION
- Run Away With Me
- Julien
- Happy Not Knowing
- Call Me Maybe
- Now That I Found You
- Gimmie Love
- Feels Right
- Fever
- For Sure
- Want You In My Room
- Store
- Too Much
- When I Needed You
- I Really Like You
- Everything He Needs
- Boy Problems
- Party for One
Encore:
- All That
- Let’s Get Lost
- Cut to the Feeling