Henry Hwu
Bright bulbs flicker from the stage ahead, shrouding the audience in beams of thick, white light. The sound of an eerie, droning synthesizer fills the crowded stadium, and a lone figure emerges from the darkness, standing on an elevated platform, bathed in blue light. She remains still for a moment, basking in the crowd’s applause, before the first bass note sounds throughout the arena.
This past April, singer-songwriter Billie Eilish announced that her HIT ME HARD AND SOFT Tour would be making its way through North America, Australia, and Europe from September 29, 2024 through July 27, 2025. For the first time in her touring career, Eilish would not be accompanied by her brother, producer, and frequent musical collaborator, FINNEAS, and would instead be joined by a full band.
The tour would not only be different musically— it would look different physically. Instead of her typical end-stage format, Eilish would now be performing at the center of the arena, in the round.
Eilish did not let these changes intimidate her, however. Instead, she embraced them. In an epic display of showmanship and resilience, Eilish put on an enrapturing show at the Prudential Center on October 9th, with stunning visuals, and even more incredible vocals.
The concert began with the five-minute-long epic “Chihiro,” which put Eilish’s haunting falsetto on full display. The opener was followed by a slew of Eilish’s most upbeat songs, including her queer anthem “Lunch.” Eilish ran across the stage, jumping and singing along to tune, energizing the audience, and setting the tone for the rest of the night.
But the concert had its fair share of softer moments, too. At one point during the show, Eilish asked her fans to remain silent as she laid down stacks of vocal harmonies for her ballad, “When the Party’s Over.” Nearly 16,000 audience members stayed quiet as Eilish sang acapella, her voice echoing throughout the arena.
This was not the only time that Eilish interacted with her fans throughout the show. Eilish frequently left the stage to give fans high-fives and hugs, or hold their hands as she performed. For the songs “Guess” and “Everything I Wanted,” Eilish ran over to a smaller stage on the side of the venue where fans on the floor could crowd around her and get an even closer look at the star.
As Eilish closed out her concert, she gave thanks to her band, the tour’s openers, the fans, and her family for their undying love and support. Eilish then transitioned into her Academy Award-winning song, “What Was I Made For?,” and sat on the edge of the stage, singing directly to the audience.
But Eilish had one more trick up her sleeve. During her next song — the alt-rock hit, “Happier Than Ever” — Eilish’s brother FINNEAS emerged from the pit to join her on stage. The audience erupted into cheers.
Eilish and FINNEAS then played their final song: the infectious pop hit “Birds of A Feather,” in which the audience was showered with confetti. At the end of the song, Eilish and FINNEAS shared a warm embrace; the perfect way to close an incredible concert at the Prudential Center.
Setlist:
“Chihiro”
“Lunch”
“NDA”
“Therefore I Am”
“Wildflower”
“When the Party’s Over”
“The Diner”
“Ilomilo”
“Bad Guy”
“The Greatest”
“Male Fantasy”
“Skinny”
“TV”
“Bury a Friend”
“Oxytocin”
“You Should See Me in a Crown”
“Guess”
“Everything I Wanted”
“Lovely”/ “IDon’tWannaBeYouAnymore” / “Ocean Eyes”
“L’Amour De Ma Vie”
“What Was I Made For?”
“Happier Than Ever”
“Birds of a Feather”