Chappell Roan review: Dublin in the pink for thrilling gig at Olympia
Chappell Roan at the Olympia in Dublin. Picture: Ellen Hickey
★★★★★
Dublin was ‘Hot to Go!’ on Tuesday night as the femininomenon Chappell Roan blew the roof off the Olympia.
The ‘Good Luck Babe’ hit maker has grown exponentially in the past few months since the gig was announced, and the buzz around Roan suggested that she could easily have filled a bigger venue.
Fans had earlier this year scrambled for tickets for a concert originally announced for the even smaller Academy, but promoters soon changed up to the 1,240-capacity Olympia.
Roan has recently performed to over 100,000 people in Lollapalooza in the US, and was front-and-centre at the MTV Video Music Awards last week.
The announced theme on Tuesday night was 'Pink Pony Club', and streets around the venue were awash with pink cowboy hats and boots, lovers holding hands, friends crying into shoulders, bedazzled faces, and friendship bracelets. American actress Jenna Ortega was spotted, while I’m Grand Mam’s PJ Kirby was in the Upper Circle of the venue.
Drag queens from Haus of Wig, Donna Fella, Shaqira Knightly, and Naomi Diamond opened for the artist shortly after 8pm, before the US star took to the stage shortly after 9pm.
“I’ve already had so much fun in Dublin, tonight ain’t no different,” Chappell Roan announced to the Olympia, soon after she performed ‘Femininomenon’ and ‘Naked in Manhattan' for the adoring crowd.
Dancing was obligatory for the entire audience, and everyone seemed to know every word as Roan rolled out hits from The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess album, and some older tracks.
Highlights of 90-minute set also saw a rendition of 'Guilty Pleasure', her favourite final track on her debut album that doesn't always get a live outing.
While there were hints of some nervousness as Roan performed, she did plenty to charm and thrill along the way.
“I welcome you here, you are cherished here, you are loved here,” the 26-year-old said as she showed off her sparkly pink bodysuit, pink metallic cowboy boots with her long red curls swaying side to side.
Roan did not need to waste time teaching the crowd the moves to her song ‘Hot to Go’, with those assembled ready to dance and scream, and sing their hearts out.
The Missouri native ran across the stage, pointed at lucky individuals in the pit, and read out one of the signs that a fan had held up. "Sing ‘Dreams’ by the Cranberries," she read. While Roan admitted it was a song she used to sing as a teenager, it didn't make it onto tonight's set.
The crowd then erupted into the classic ‘Olé Olé Olé’ chant, leaving Roan and her band standing in silence for nearly two minutes.
"This song is dedicated to my ex,” she yelled before her band started blaring ‘My Kink is my Karma'.
Roan closed off the Olympia with ‘California’ and of course ‘Pink Pony Club’.
Tuesday may have been the last occasion Irish fans will get to see Roan in such a small venue. You'd imagine the next visit will involve 3Arena or even one of the stadiums. It really did feel like we were witnessing the emergence of a superstar.
