Concert Review: P!nk puts on the “show of the year” in Birmingham

By: Dylan Basden

P!nk returns to The Magic City for the first time since 2019 to deliver a spectacle to a sold-out Legacy Arena.

In a year filled with pop stars dominating the market with massive arena tours (Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, and Charli xcx to name a few) and fresh off the heels of two massive stadium tours (Taylor Swift and Beyoncé), it should come as high praise when I say P!nk might just have put on the show of the year. I am not alone saying this either; P!nk’s “Summer Carnival” tour is expected to finish as the third highest grossing concert tour by a female artist of all time, only behind the two aforementioned stadium tours respectively. This also lands it as the thirteenth highest grossing concert tour of all time, regardless of gender.  

This tour felt uniquely P!nk; it often could feel clumsy and awkward, transitioning from one marvel to the next, practically segmenting every song into its own little world. But do not take my clumsy and awkward comment out of context, because I genuinely believe that the creative freedom experience on this tour is one of P!nk’s greatest strengths. Stunning aerial performances (about a half dozen throughout the night), quirky stage props (i.e. a spikey ice cream cone, disco-meets-beach ball, and a neon flamingo), and an unbridled ability to have fun made this tour not only distinct, but truthfully allowed it to blossom into something apart from any show I’ve seen before. And I didn’t even mention the uncanny lip people on “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”.

Now, I cannot simply gloss over the acrobatic and aerial stunts that P!nk pulls off in her live shows, they’ve practically become ubiquitous with her. Going in blind, you might believe you’ve stumbled into a Cirque du Soleil performance as P!nk makes her entrance bungy jumping from a pair of giant lips at the top off the arena. Later in the night P!nk takes on an aerial performance, a delicate balance of graceful interpretive dance and a truly understated strength as she soars above the crowd only held up by her determination and the loops she drapes around herself during the show. She makes the impossible seem effortless.

P!nk also tends to be an artist that you can forget just how many hits she has. “Raise Your Glass” and “Who Knew” being early examples, but throughout the night I was constantly reminded of her immense back-catalog. P!nk’s distinctive rasp and rock edge, brought to the forefront by her powerful contralto, really is defining. “So What” is a shining example, a song which has so much dynamic range that it would challenge the most reasoned of vocalists (without mentioning the fact it was performed as P!nk flew through the air spinning like a top). Contrary to all the power behind her voice, P!nk also manages to stay grounded (literally), performing several ballads stripped back with “Please Don’t Leave Me” being a standout moment.

“Please Don’t Leave Me” was notable for another reason as it was performed with her long-time guitar player, Justin Derrico. Justin has been with P!nk for over 17 years, standing second to her even longer running pianist of 24 years, Jason Chapman. This level of mutual devotion is not lost on me, with the band and dancers very clearly having a tight-knit relationship, allowing for an added ease at playing and a bunch of fun banter. It allows for moments of intimacy such as the aforementioned acoustic number, as well as more humorous moments such as when P!nk approaches Jason for handfuls of candy. P!nk’s backing band is not only one of the best I’ve seen, they also allow P!nk to be P!nk.

Earlier I mentioned that the show could feel awkward at times, but that this allowed P!nk to creatively run wild. Alecia Beth Moore Hart, the voice behind P!nk, is one of those big, unrelenting personalities. She is quirky, but she also carries a genuine charm, remaining committed to being herself on stage and letting everything flow. During the downtime between the lower tempo moments of the night, P!nk would interact with fans, whether it was sharing candy, chatting and telling stories, or graciously accepting several handmade gifts (someone even crocheted her as a frog). In an age where celebrities, pop stars in particular, can feel so separated from the average person, P!nk manages to add a bit of normalcy into an abnormal performance.

To be blunt, P!nk was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. I would say that she is a natural born performer, but I honestly feel like that belittles the hard work she puts into her shows every night. There is a very clear drive to put on the best live show possible, from the set design, to the vocal performance, and obviously the unreal amount of aerial stunts. P!nk not only demands your attention, she earns it. This is a show that is hard to look away from, you’ll regret even a simple bathroom break. There is a reason that P!nk maintains such a high demand in the touring world, and no it is not just because of her impressive vocal ability and countless hits; it is because she cares. To find an artist who cares so deeply about their performances and values the money spent by fans is special to say the least. The “Summer Carnival” tour may be over for now, but that is not going to stop me from telling you to go see P!nk live. 

Go see P!nk live.

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