TAYLOR SWIFT, KELLIE PICKLER AND GLORIANA, EnergySolutions Arena, May 26
More than just a concert, teen music star Taylor Swift gave fans an intimate look into her life Tuesday night during a one-night performance at the EnergySolutions Arena.
She sang songs about love, angst and heartache. And the sold-out crowd seemed to love it, cheering nonstop, even when she wasn't singing.
Swift appeared to bask in the attention.
Even at age 19, she is a confident and mature performer. Swift constantly played to her crowd, stopping to smile, wave and acknowledge her fans.
A highlight of the night came when she sang "Hey Stephen" from the top of the arena and then proceeded to walk through an ecstatic crowd and give hugs and handshakes. Young girls took pictures on their camera phones, and one boy started jumping up and down after Swift gave him a hug.
"I'm not the only girl that still believes in love stories," said Swift, who thanked her Utah fans for the electric concert experience.
She opened her two-hour set with the high-energy songs "You Belong With Me," "Our Song" and "Tell Me Why." Fan favorites included renditions later in the night of "Love Story" and "Tim McGraw."
Throughout the night, there were constant set changes, costume changes, dancing and effects. Swift, who said in an interview prior to the concert she is interested in all aspects of the music business, actually designed the set she used Tuesday when she was 14 years old.
It was a fairly multipurpose setup, with stairs and a hydraulic lift for different props.
Her first songs showcased the set as a high school setting, with images of lockers displayed on the white backdrop. Later, it became a castle as she sang "Love Story." During the final song of her encore, there was fake rain that poured onto the stage as she sang "Should Have Said No."
"This has been one of my favorite places to play since age 16 when I started touring," Swift said about her Utah visit.
Her opening band, Gloriana, seemed equally excited about their visit, singing a high-energy but quick five-song set. Highlights included their song "Wild at Heart," which has been nominated for a Country Music Television award. The group has only been singing together since 2007, and while fresh, has been able to utilize its powerful four-part harmonies.
Opener Kellie Pickler, who starred on American Idol, did not perform due to sickness.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com