Madison Beer took fans through the twists and turns of her “locket tour,” winning hearts with her captivating voice.
The American singer-songwriter brought her largest headlining tour to date to the Kia Forum on Wednesday night. The 32-leg tour supports Beer’s third studio album, “locket,” which debuted at No. 10 on the United States Billboard 200. Throughout her 95-minute-long three-act set, Beer performed 24 songs – including every track from “locket deluxe” – crafting a dreamlike performance that was a blend of sensual, sad and snappy.
Lulu Simon and thủy, who played at Bruin Bash in 2024, opened the show. After their sets, a video played on the screen to explain Beer’s concept of a locket as a complicated maze of love and memories where one can easily get lost. In a voiceover, Beer asked the audience members whether they would enter the locket despite these risks – and said she would. Beer then took the stage in a blue-and-white mini corset dress, echoing the lacy pastel aesthetic seen among attendees.
The concert opened on an upbeat note with “yes baby,” “15 MINUTES” and “BOYSHIT.” Beer upped the energy through enrapturing choreographies featuring backup dancers as she showed off her charisma. The singer-songwriter used the stage as a catwalk, strutting up and down to make it her runway.
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The elegant set design featured a room shaped like a heart locket, as well as a balcony above the room that hosted the band. Beer maximized her use of the stage throughout the show, creating an intimate yet dynamic atmosphere with her charismatic movement across the houselike set.
Throughout the night, Beer wowed with her vocals, from her enthralling lower register to her hauntingly beautiful belts. A highlight was the last song of the first act, “bad enough,” where Beer sat on her knees in a heartfelt performance, featuring the lyric, “It’s not bad enough to let my baby go” and drawing out the last note to embody its pain.
Beer began the second act with an outfit change, donning a flowing white dress. She kept the momentum from the previous act going with her performance of “Reckless,” drawing cheers from the crowd. Then, Beer shifted the evening’s vibe.
She switched from snazzy to sweet with performances of “locket theme” and “somehow i got lucky,” before moving to the snarkier number “healthy habit.” This tonal shift, however, felt slightly abrupt, standing out as less cohesive than the rest of the set and somewhat interrupting the moment’s romance. The singer then performed back-to-back ballads before switching yet again to more upbeat songs, including “Dear Society” and “Fools,” the surprise song of the night, which she performed for the first time since 2019. The lyric “Why you always such a Gemini?” from “Selfish” drew an enthusiastic uproar from fans. Beer ended the act with a touching display of vulnerability in “you’re still everything” – once again showing off her ability to convey powerful emotions with her alluring voice.
The videos that played between sets – featuring swans and an icy color palette – added to the dreamy, ephemeral atmosphere of the show. With videos of birds flying away set to melancholy tunes, Beer invited the audience to wonder if anything can last, conveyed through a setlist that never lingered in one emotion for long.
After an interlude, Beer drew loud cheers from fans when she reappeared in a leopard-print corset top and black tassel skirt. Marking a contrast from the slower second act that lulled at times, the third act started off upbeat, as Beer sauntered down the stairs and crooned the sardonic lyrics of “angel wings.” The energy returned in full swing with “Baby,” which featured charismatic choreography to accompany the song’s catchy chorus.
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Beer’s command of the stage radiated in her performance of “complexity,” where her rage and love manifested through her delivery of the revelatory lyrics, “But how can I expect you to love me when you don’t even love yourself? How can I expect you to want me when you want nothin’ for yourself?”
She closed the night of enchantment with “make you mine,” which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. The song was the most popular of the night, with fans singing and dancing as the show came to a close.
Beer briefly returned to the stage for the encore, performing “bittersweet” with a smile.
After a night that was both hypnotic and heartfelt, leaving the venue was bitter, though the memories made it sweet.
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