As Lana Del Rey stepped into the spotlight at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater, an indistinguishable mix of screams and sobs erupted from a sea of devoted fans. Upon first chord, every audience member was on their toes, eager to get a glimpse of the music icon herself. The lights went blue, and on queued the mesmerizing strings to her heartbreak anthem, Norman F***ing Rockwell. Through her vocal prowess and mesmerizing stage presence, Lana Del Rey captured the hearts of the entire audience at her long-awaited Austin concert.
Upon hearing about Lana Del Rey’s tour, I was absolutely ecstatic. I discovered her in my early tweens, and her music has been the cornerstone of my music taste from then on. Through the internet, it is evident that this was the same case for many other teenagers similar to myself. Considering Lana hadn’t officially performed in Austin since 2017, this tour gave younger fans the chance to finally witness her perform live. This concert attracted hoards of fans who not only enjoyed her music but wanted to see their idol in the flesh.
Germania Insurance Amphitheater was a relatively small venue for an artist as popular as Lana; however, I found the more intimate atmosphere fitting for her authentic sound. I was seated on the lawn, which was the furthest section from the stage, but this did not deprive me of a fulfilling experience. Unlike the seats closer to the front, I was able to lay back and marinate in her music. The venue consisted primarily of people my age, and there was an obvious theme in outfits. Fans were decked out in sundresses, red jewelry, and ribbons pulling back hair — a style the internet would dub “Lana-coded.”
Anticipation weighed heavily in the air, as everybody awaited the beginning of the performance. For a brief period of time, the audience was entertained by Lana’s opener, Nikki Lane, who is featured in her song, Breaking Up Slowly. Lane brought a fun mix of vintage, country, and indie-rock to the amphitheater, maintaining energy across the crowd.
After quite a bit of time, Lana made her much-awaited appearance. Although she was late, as usual, her performance was instantly captivating. My friends and I found ourselves tearing up before she even began to sing, as the reality of seeing her live hit us. Furthermore, her vocals were beyond mesmerizing in person, and to hear the songs I knew by heart live was the most touching experience.
Lana’s setlist was a versatile blend of nostalgic fan favorites and fresh new releases. She played her more upbeat hits such as Cherry and Diet Mountain Dew, but also sprinkled in her infamous tearjerkers like Video Games and Bartender. Her queue of songs was well-rounded, embodying the varying moods found within Lana’s discography. This variation had fans in tears one second and dancing excitedly the next.
Her performance was beautiful, to say the least. During Video Games, she sang seated on a flower-covered swing, and during Arcadia, she danced while surrounded by white bed sheets. Her stage presence was enigmatic yet intimate and beautiful yet heartbreaking. My favorite of her songs performed was definitely Ultraviolence, as she played it with enhanced bass and seductive vocals — a fun combo. Lana finished the night with her sorrowful yet beautifully written song, hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have – but I have it, tying up the setlist emotionally and raw. The night ended, leaving fans only to reminisce on the exhilarating performance they witnessed.
