Olivia Rodrigo sings her Guts out in Chicago

Grammy Award-winning singer Olivia Rodrigo returned to the Windy City after 2022 at the Aragon Ballroom in 2022. Her growing popularity packed the United Center in Illinois for two nights on March 20 and 21 for her Guts World Tour.

Just like her band, the crowd was female-focused with gay men and dates lightly mixed in amongst the attendees. Opener Chappell Roan followed suit with her three-piece backing band of women. The queer singer donned boots and bootie shorts as she paced around the stage with a frenetic energy.

At one point, she giddily exclaimed, “I can't believe I'm playing Chicago!” The Missouri native kept things “Casual” as she launched into song after song while hitting some impressive notes throughout her rocking set. She taught a dance to the spectators to pair with her cheerleader song “Hot to Go!” and then closed with “Pink Pony Club.” Look for another live performance from the talented singer this summer at Lollapalooza.

After a short break, Rodrigo started right at 8:30 p.m. accompanied by deafening screams from ticket holders on all levels of the venue. She entered from a trap door and it was a good idea to start with “Bad Idea, Right?” This track set the tone for the rocking Rodrigo and the guitar riffs yet to come.

For over 20 songs, the High School Musical musician displayed confidence and style beyond her years. It seems like just yesterday that she received her “Drivers License” and now she's an adult after turning 21 years old last month. She confessed to having her first sip of alcohol and tickled the ivories for a smoky solo.

Rodrigo did an excellent job of involving the loyal “Livies” around her whether it was climbing down into the pit for “Can't Catch Me Now” or riding a half-moon contraption above their heads during “Enough for You.”

As the clock struck 10, her younger following struggled to stay awake during a school night, so the band wisely saved the guitar tunes until the end of the setlist to stimulate the sleepyheads.

Concerts of this proportion are on a massive scale similar to Taylor Swift and Beyonce, but the population now prefers an up-close experience. Rodrigo's crew were aware of that fact with outdoor tailgating and an open tour bus packed with memorabilia to explore.

There were photographic opportunities located inside and purple merchandise in every corner. No contraceptives were offered at the Chicago stops following controversy in Missouri, but the message was still clear. This two-night extravaganza was a celebration of womanhood and empowering music. Sometimes that takes Guts to pull off!

Follow the concert trail of Guts at store.oliviarodrigo.com and find five more songs on Guts Spilled when the deluxe album drops on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Her signature Crumbl Guts cookie will be sold in Illinois until March 24 with available locations listed at crumblcookies.com.