Since its release just over a month ago, Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts has taken the world by storm. The sophomore album takes listeners on a cathartic journey through the apparent later years of girlhood, exploring themes like the perils of growing up (Teenage Dream), trying to forgive (The Grudge), comparing yourself to others (Lacy, Making The Bed, Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl), and of course, falling in love and all of the tumultuous twists and turns that come along with it (Vampire, Bad Idea, Right?).
Preceding her upcoming and highly anticipated Guts Tour, Rodrigo has graced a handful of stages within the past month, from The TODAY Show in New York City all the way to The Bluebird in Nashville alongside Sheryl Crow. Her uniquely intimate appearances (such as the aforementioned performance at The Bluebird as well as last week’s Q&A at the Grammy Museum) have typically swayed away from the traditional way of receiving concert tickets, leaving fans who were able to get their hands on the experiences extremely lucky.
The luckiest Olivia fans, however, may very well have been patrons of The Theatre at The Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles last night. The 1600 person venue was bustling within fans, their arms full of limited edition I Spilled my Guts In Los Angeles merchandise and Midori iced matcha lattes in commemorative reusable OR glass cups, highly anticipating being among the very first people to hear most of the songs on the album live.
Tickets had been announced and had gone on sale only a day prior, which ensured that everyone in the hotel that night was a true fan, and made even the energy in the lobby before the show completely through the roof. So many fans had come from out of state and had lively stories about car rentals, train rides, and even a few plane rides, which happened to be my very own way of transportation to The Ace.
Not only did audience members hear the songs live for the first time, it’s also very possible that they heard them in a way that no other live performance goer will ever hear again. The concert was an extra special unplugged performance, only featuring a guitar and a piano, both played by Rodrigo’s producer and songwriting partner, Dan Nigro. The acoustic performances and minor tempo changes of the songs were a beautifully stark contrast to the ballad-y nature of a handful of the songs on Guts, and the lively, fast paced nature of Rodrigo’s music in general. The crowd remained seated for the majority of the night, standing up only for Traitor, Get Him Back, Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl, and All American Bitch, with Rodrigo adorably exclaiming “get up, get up!” in between lyrics during the latter.
The soft sound, intimate venue, and the unspoken mutual agreement by everyone in the audience to simply sit back and let Rodrigo’s own vocals carry the night away, created an extremely unique concert experience. In between performances, her and Nigro told the story of how each song off the album came to be. From Teenage Dream coming about as Rodrigo babysat Nigro’s 6 month old daughter, to a hilarious interlude about Rodrigo trying to order a glass of wine at dinner with Nigro after finally finishing Get Him Back.
Even before Rodrigo took the stage, the night was full of experiences. The immersive concert experience brought some of GUTS’ most iconic moments to life, including an Instagram-worthy photo moment from the “Bad Idea Right” music video and vintage-style photo booths. On the lower level of the hotel there was an interactive Get Ready Room, which featured complimentary lipsticks and the cutest photo ops! Fans could also sip on an iconic complimentary matcha experience, featuring matcha lattes from LA-based small business Midori Matcha, in a commemorative reusable cup. After the show, fans were met with a surprise taco experience, as a food truck and taco stand with complimentary snacks for fans.
The night was made possible by American Express. The epic Card Member-only concert experience was part of Amex’s third annual Member Week, a weeklong celebration of what it means to be #withAmex. Olivia’s concert followed 2022’s Member Week concert featuring Jack Harlow. “I’ve been excited by the response to GUTS and I can’t wait to perform live for my fans,” Rodrigo said. “Partnering with American Express for my GUTS world tour, the GUTS Gallery pop-up experiences, and now this intimate performance for my fans means so much. Since we’re making the show available on my YouTube during Member Week, Livies around the world can get a sneak preview of what’s to come on tour!”
Since the release of her debut album a little over two years ago, Olivia Rodrigo has skyrocketed, but continues to be the epitome of grace and kindness. One day there may be a time where intimate venues and surprise shows will be much fewer and farther between, and I could not possibly feel luckier to be living in the present.
The concert will be available on Olivia’s YouTube channel Tuesday, October 10 at 8pm ET through Thursday, October 12, courtesy of American Express.
