SZA returned last December with her sophomore album SOS, which was instantly met with critical acclaim and that also became a hit with fans on streaming platforms and social sites just as quickly. So it was no surprise that the tour would sell out dates left and right, including the San Diego date that I got to witness while I was coincidentally in town for personal reasons.
In short, this show was spectacular.
The audience and their impassioned reception to the TDE songstress contributed as much to the magic of the night as anything that SZA and her team brought to the stage. The way in which the arena erupted song after song was all the evidence anyone could need for proof that this is her moment. My favorite part about being in the crowd that night had to be during some of SZA’s messiest tracks about relationships, which inspired every girl as far as my eyes could see to do some ugly, scream singing. While the girls sang, I saw that some had boyfriends standing right behind them, expressionless. It could only mean one of two things at that moment, either she’s singing about the boyfriend that’s present, or she’s singing about an ex and the current partner is getting a front-row reminder that she might not be over one of her previous relationships.
The set production followed the nautical theme of the album’s cover art. While it was cool to see how digital screens were used to display anything from a stormy ocean to waterfalls, I also liked how they were used practically to cover what was being set up behind it. After the screens would be raised, they would reveal new sets that included an SOS ship and a giant anchor. The show itself was structured like a movie, complete opening and ending credits, and the execution was as cinematic as you can get in an arena. Flawless delivery, and you can only applaud SZA for stepping up to the occasion.
While it seemed like every song was somebody’s “THAT’S my sooong” and the phones would come out to either capture the performance or record themselves, the undeniable top social content moment came during the portion of her set during which SZA hops on a lifeboat and floats over the arena floor, guided by lighthouse to bring the show’s creative theme to a full circle.
Photo Credit: Oscar Oliva Jr / Pursuit Of Dopeness
