I’ve been a fan of Lorde almost since the very start of her career, when “Royals” became a global hit and right before the release of her debut album, Pure Heroine. Since I was in early high school, Lorde’s music has soundtracked my life and given voice to some of my deepest feelings surrounding friendships, growing up, falling in love and being a young woman.

I’ve been seeing Lorde in concert for every tour she’s gone on since her second album, Melodrama, so of course I knew I had to see the Ultrasound Tour for her fourth studio album, Virgin. Though her third album, Solar Power, was not my favorite, I still went to that tour and had an amazing time — the one thing that is guaranteed with Lorde is that she puts on a great show, and she knows what the people want to hear.

My girlfriend, Brena, and I arrived at the newly renamed Xfinity Mobile Arena early because the first opener was The Japanese House, an artist we’re big fans of and have seen a few times before. It’s always a big plus when you know who the opener is before arriving at the concert; it makes the whole night feel more worth it and special. My sister joined up with us during the second opener, Blood Orange, because she didn’t feel the need to see The Japanese House (her loss). We had amazing seats thanks to me snagging them during the presale (and paying a pretty penny). Despite our great seats, please excuse my blurry photos, as I was having too much fun to get good ones.

When Lorde took the stage, the energy throughout the arena was absolutely electric. She commands her audience, even during the songs that aren’t my personal favorites — hearing them live just changes things. I was also happy when this album came out that I liked it a lot better than Solar Power, so I was already primed for a great time.

From Lorde’s unselfconscious dance style (that earned her some flack in the 2010s) to her interpretive staging and set pieces, the Ultrasound Tour was gripping at every moment. When Lorde sang fan favorites like “Supercut” and “Ribs,” you could feel the whole room’s euphoria, all of us in an unforgettable moment together where we could thrash wildly and sing at the top of our lungs, feeling every syllable of those lyrics.

You could tell that Lorde put so much thought and intention into every choice made during the show, from setlist to lighting to the two dancers she had accompanying her. I left the night even more convinced that Lorde is a true generational artist, and I feel so lucky to have grown up with her from Pure Heroine to Virgin.

— Hannah Gruen, advertising & events coordinator