Lana Del Rey Concert Review
Written by: Delfina Glover
Lana singing at the Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheatre. (Delfina Glover / @delfinaglover)
I’m sitting in my seat listening to the murmurs of ecstatic Lana fans and the lights suddenly dim. Everyone begins to scream as her intro video begins to play on the screen. She walks, or should I say glides from side stage toward the middle to greet us with a lovely, soft smile and a calm “Hello, San Diego.” Following close behind was her two backup dancers wearing white flapper, 1920’s style dresses with white boots. The stage had a vintage, retro California ambiance that encompassed everything you could think of when Lana Del Rey comes to mind. A rounded, white leveled stage, wicker lawn chairs, and her iconic swings on either side, made up the set. The foliage painted a picture of a luscious beach-side backyard displaying palm trees, one peach tree, and vines hanging from above. Not to forget the golden sparkling baby grand piano sitting in front to add the perfect touch. Lana begins singing “Norman Fucking Rockwell,” her voice angelic and absolutely perfect for taking us with her on a musical journey.
The energy in the open air theater was calm yet filled with love as everyone waited for the words to fall off of Lana’s lips and into her microphone. She kept everyone’s attention as she talked about her songs with her silky smooth pronunciation. About a quarter of the way through her set, Lana hopped off the stage to hangout and chat with her front row. She took the time to appreciate her fans treating them like they were her family.
Halfway through the show, Lana began to ask us what songs we wanted to hear. Her delightful and intimate engagement is what makes people addicted to her and her music. As she sat on her swing she plucked a real peach off of the tree on her stage, took a bite and tossed it in to the crowd. After singing “Ultraviolence”, she paused and said, “Do you ever look back on something you wrote and ask yourself, what the fuck was I thinking?”, she giggled and continued in to the next song as everyone cheered for her.
Lana Del Rey captivating the crowd. (Deflina Glover / @delfinaglover)
The crowd was respectful to each other while being mesmerized by her music. As she sang her second to last song, “Off to the Races,” we were gifted with confetti showers. Her backup dancers were standing on both sides of her swaying in synchronization to the music.
This show was my first opportunity to see Lana after missing her performance at Lollapalooza in 2016. I can truly say, she did not disappoint. Her elegance and bubbly demeanor is empowering. It felt as if it was an honor to be in her presence. Hearing “Summertime Sadness” live was everything one could dream of. She is a talented artist with a unique vision and it really shows through her live performances.
Before she sang her last song, she shared a secret. Each guest appearance at the Hollywood Bowl show would be back with her the next time she sings in San Diego. She closed the show with “Venice Bitch” and left us wanting more. Keep an eye out for her, as Lana is a San Diego regular and calls this city her “home away from home.” Until next time, Lana.
Lana Del Rey’s Setlist:
“Norman Fucking Rockwell”
“Bartender”
“Cinnamon Girl”
“For Free” (Joni Mitchell cover)
“Born to Die”
“Blue Jeans”
“Cherry”
“Pretty When You Cry”
“Mariners Apartment Complex”
“White Mustang”
“Change / Black Beauty / Young and Beautiful”
“Ride”
“Video Games”
“West Coast”
“Ultraviolence”
“Shades of Cool”
“Summertime Sadness”
“Doin' Time” (Sublime cover)
“Off to the Races”
“Venice Bitch”