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Milwaukee audiences patiently awaited the arrival of Pink'sThe Truth About Love concert tour over two months later than initially planned, but it is likely that for most fans it was well worth the wait. Pink is one of the most consistent and durable of pop stars with all six of her studio albums dating back to 2000 certified platinum or beyond and all but the first reaching the top 10 on the album chart.
The Truth About Love concert tour, supporting the album of the same name, is something of a victory lap as she celebrates her very first #1 hit album which also contains "Just Give Me a Reason," the biggest hit single of her career. The show itself includes plenty of spectacle and is as much a celebration of the beauty and strength of a fit human body as it is a string of favorite pop hit singles by the star.
The opener for this segment of the tour was rising Danish pop-rock trio New Politics. The energetic set featured "Harlem," the group's breakthrough top 5 alternative hit here in the US. Guitarist Soren Hansen and lead vocalist David Boyd seemed to be in constant competition to see who could put the most energy and effort into their performance. It looked like Boyd finally won when he finished the band's set standing on his head. US pop-rock fans are likely to see a lot more of New Politics in coming months. They just landed the opening spot on this summer's Monumentour co-headlined by Fall Out Boy and Paramore.
One of the most impressive aspects of Pink's current stage performance is that she seems to effortlessly deliver strong vocals despite the fact she is frequently engaged in challenging aerial acrobatic moves and athletic dancing. Opening the show being propelled around via bungee cords while singing "Raise Your Glass," it seemed many fans would question whether vocals are pre-recorded. However, you could clearly hear breathing impacted by the star's physical moments. Impressively, they did not detract from Pink's trademark slightly raspy vocals.
The Truth About Love concert tour is filled with a sense of spectacle. Multiple video screens accompany the stage performance of a troupe of dancers that only briefly let up during necessary instrumental interludes that allowed the star to occasionally catch her breath in the two hour performance. Despite the props and colorful accompaniments, the focus never shifted from the powerful, rousing songs that lie at the core of Pink's appeal.
Pink did showcase a number of songs from the album The Truth About Love. However, the bulk of the show was devoted to her hits. The biggest rounds of applause greeted the #1 smash hits "Just Give Me a Reason" and encore "So What," accompanied by an eye-popping slingshotting of Pink out over the audience all around the arena. She also devoted a portion of the show to her earliest days as a star performing "Just Like a Pill" and later in the show a medley of her first three hit singles "Most Girls," "There You Go," and You Make Me Sick."
If there is a weakness at this point to the concert tour, it's the fact that nearly a year into the concert tour, everything is so well rehearsed and perfected that the delivery can feel somewhat airless at times. When Pink's headset malfunctioned during the acoustic portion of the show, it was almost a relief because it provided a momentary glimpse into the unscripted artist. Pink's appreciation for her fellow performers onstage and technical crew feels warm and honest. After attending the show, my best guess is this has been a phenomenal year for all involved with the tour. The show's emcee, Jimmy Slonina, aka Rubix von Fuchenhurtz, grew somewhat tiring by the end of the concert, but his energy must be applauded in a difficult role of trying to be friendly, funny, and naughty all at the same time.
Beyond the music, Pink's The Truth About Love show is a celebration of the fit human body. It is barely two and a half years since the 34 year old star gave birth to her first child, but the experience seems to have only challenged her to present an even more physically powerful stage presence. The show is filled with athletic dancing and aerial acrobatics that are unique to Pink among major pop artists. Assisting her with many of the aerial tricks were three powerfully muscled male dancers who variously hung upside down, spun while hanging just from their arms, and still managed to dance through much of the show. Perhaps in delivering a personal message about the use of chemical substances to the audience, Pink reserved some of the most challenging physical elements for a riveting performance of the hit "Sober."
While it feels that she is often underestimated among the top level of today's pop stars, Pink in concert proves that she can rival any current artist in delivering an eye-catching, crowd-pleasing spectacle. The Truth About Love concert tour should be treated as a must-see for any mainstream pop fan. The star is at the top of her game, and the loving, grateful personality demonstrated by Pink throughout the show has no peer in today's pop.
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