I had no idea Pink spent all her concerts in the last decade with her legs in the air.
Her latest show at San Francisco’s Chase Center felt like Cirque du Soleil teamed up with the House of Air trampolines in Crissy Field, and then added rhinestones, neon, acrobatics, interpretive dance, and silly costumes. Pink definitely pulled out all the stops to keep our attention.
The aptly-named Trustfall Tour is the 9th for the bubblegum pop songstress, and while I often avoid stadiums filled with screaming teens, this crowd felt more like a high school reunion of my own elder Millennial generation. Pink’s upbeat music has traversed two decades on our radio stations, discmans, iPods, and Spotify playlists with feel-good lyrics and messages of empowerment.
Her concert reminded me how inclusive she is, too. Out on the thrust, she accepted gifts from front-row attendees: some squishy pillow she hugged, a couple flower leis she put around her neck, and a rainbow flag she draped across her shoulders, later hanging it on her mic stand while performing her 2012 single, “Try.”
There always has to be something from a performer about the city they’re in, right? This was her bit about San Francisco:
“I was kind of adopted by the lesbians of San Francisco,” Pink said. “We’ve had some good times in this city. I think most of those bars are closed now — thank God — and hopefully been cleaned.” It was obvious she was reflecting on wild times fondly, like “What happens in Vegas” sort of thing.
If I had any criticism of the evening — which I don’t — it’s that Pink needed more outfit changes, more sparkle, and definitely more time in the air. All her backup dancers must have been so tired bouncing off those trampolines during “Trustfall.”
My favorite bit was probably the dancing lips in “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” which admittedly gave me some Katy Perry at the Super Bowl 2015.
Then — of course — the most undeniably spectacular finale was when Pink flew around the entire arena on four suspension wires. Listen Pink: I know you’re doing the most, but would it be so much to ask that you do the entire show like this? Flipping in continuous rotation can’t be that nauseating; think about your fans here.
I’m not a big concertgoer, so this was easily one of the best of my life. She continues in the U.S. through November before scooting off to Australia. I hope you get a chance to see her.
Saul Sugarman is editor in chief of The Bold Italic.
The Bold Italic is a non-profit media organization, and we publish first-person perspectives about San Francisco and the Bay Area. Donate to us today.
More photos of Pink’s concert at Chase Center
Photos by Eric Ananmalay / Chase Center.
