Lorde shows NZ her new slick, superstar era

I’ve seen Lorde live three times.

Once at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London in early June, 2014. Once at Wellington’s TSB Arena almost exactly three years ago. And last night, at Spark Arena in Auckland.

Those three shows, across 12 years, serve to highlight just how much the New Zealander has changed as an artist.

In London she came on stage solo, wrapped in a black cape. As far as I can remember she barely looked at the crowd, let alone talked to us. It was captivating. In Wellington, on her Solar Power tour, it was a serious vibe switch. The gig felt more like an intimate group therapy session than an arena show - a conversation with some songs thrown in. She even took a request from the crowd halfway through.

Which brings us to last night.

Lorde is now sitting clearly in her popstar era. Gone is the shyness and the casual conversation. Taking their place is a slick, choreographed arena show. A show designed to be watched on the big screen as much - if not more - than by craning one's neck to see her on the stage.

Just one song in Lorde launched into 'Royals'. I thought at first she was making a statement along the lines of: 'Sure I know I have to play it, lets get it out of the way and I can show you how much more I am'.

The next standout moment came maybe 15-20 minutes in, when Melodrama’s ‘Perfect Places’ made a strong case for being her actual best song. Especially at a hometown show it felt poignant and a bit bitter sweet. It was the first moment that really felt like it connected the room, everyone in the same vibe together.

While the same setlist at show's the world over is pretty standard, for me it dilutes the idea that the show I am at is special. But something that I’m willing to bet didn’t happen overseas was ‘Hini-i-te-awatea', the te reo waiata version of ‘Oceanic Feeling’.

One of the most interesting things about this show was the interstitial space between the songs. Unlike the Solar Power tour it wasn’t filled with chat but glitchy loops and extended, reworked bits of instrumental. Sound (and lighting) design worked to tie the show together and make it feel like something more cohesive than a collection of songs.

It also kind of addresses one of the things that confused me most about the latest album Virgin, that it wasn’t quite hooky enough to be a pop banger or weird and experimental enough to be a ‘cool’ album.

If it’s possible to take anything from those interstitial moments it's that hopefully she’s heading in the ‘cool, experimental’ direction. Because it really works.

‘Teams’ was dedicated to Palestine, with the stage lighting up in the green and red colours of the flag. It added a new layer to the lyrics “we come from cities you never see on screen”, and “We're on each other's team". This was incredibly well received by the crowd, receiving huge cheers. Probably not a surprise given how clear Lorde has made her politics, recently donating all the merch take in Minneapolis to the “Minnesota Immigration Rights Action Committee + Immigrant Defense Network”.

'Green Light' was a banger. People loved it. It was the shows big hit moment. And a big screw you to all those who have called the Kiwi a 'one hit wonder’ .

Then, just as the show was drawing to a close, Lorde sang her way through the crowd (with the help of some bouncers and rope) to pop up on a small stage at the back - right next to where I was standing as it happens - to perform ‘Ribs’ before running out the doors before anyone could grab her. A nice touch to give all of us too old to be up the front a little close up action as well.