Chappell Roan at SOMA San Diego
February 22nd, 2024
With a performance just as fiery as her hair, Chappell Roan came strutting her way into our hearts on February 22nd for her sold out show at SOMA, just a day before she would take off to open for Olivia Rodrigo on her “Guts”' tour. This rising star has been a sparkly explosion to the pop scene since the release of her first album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” back in September of 2023. Weeks earlier, she had her debut on “The Late Show with Stephan Colbert' singing her hit “Red Wine Supernova”. Taking influence from the most royal of drag queens and pop superstars, she creates the perfect “midwest princess”.
This electric queen can really do it all. Hearing her slower tracks like, ‘Kaleidoscope’, Chappell creates a wistful and ethereal sound reminiscent of work from Lana Del Rey. On the flip of a dime, she contrasts with her more sharp pop bangers like, “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl '' which sounds like a direct tribute to 2010’s Lady Gaga. This sound was emphasized during the set when she did a cover of the Gaga classic, “Bad Romance”. Her vocal control and range mimics that of the greats at what appears to be just the beginning of a very successful career.
In her interview with ABC news, Roan highlights her desire to bring awareness and visibility to the queer communities in the midwest. “I think a lot of people on the coast kind of put all midwesterners in one category, but there are drag queens, people who are trans, there are massive queer communities hidden away. I feel like that’s who my real community is, and I feel like that’s what my community feels like at my shows. People that aren’t allowed to be out and proud all the time.”
She themed her shows with different tracks on her album throughout the tour. The San Diego show was themed after one of the most popular songs on the album, “My Kink is Karma”. Because her style and drag outfits are such an important part of her artistic expression, it’s easy for fans to come together aesthetically and emphasize the sense of queer community that she longs to create. Chappell Roan is certainly turning into a new staple piece for the “girls, gays and they’s”. As displayed in San Diego, this show is for anyone that wants to leave feeling empowered, confident, and comfortable in their skin. This is a 10/10 can not miss.
Photos and words by Lily Ordunez
