Maggie Rogers Pushes Barriers @ Theatre of the Living Arts
philadelphia, pennsylvania - april 14th, 2024
Just days before her third studio album, Don’t Forget Me, dropped, Maggie Rogers announced the revamp of her in person box office sales which she coined “box office week.” Before her last tour, Rogers introduced what seems like an ancient initiative in an attempt to undercut Ticketmaster scalpers and resellers. “Come buy a ticket like it's 1965,” she posted last summer and again last Friday.
She set up box office sales in a number of major cities, from LA to New York. And in select cities—New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago—Rogers herself showed up to greet fans and play exclusive shows at a venue local to each city for a mere $25. Her Instagram feed quickly flooded with videos of her and her fans celebrating the new record together.
Rogers packed her bags and hauled her way to Philadelphia for her second Don’t Forget Me release show on April 14. On the sunny Sunday in Philadelphia, Rogers ran past the line spanning blocks and blocks from the box office, waving fervently at fans with her boyish smile. Her excitement radiated as she hugged them, signed copies of her brand-new record, and posed for photos in her “Don’t Forget Me” photo booth. Many of them had been waiting in line since the early hours of the morning to score tickets to the intimate release shows, just hoping to catch a glimpse of the pop starlet.
The line raged on into the afternoon. And by 8 pm that night, after drinks at a local bar on Rogers’ tab, the lucky concert-goers piled into Philadelphia’s Theatre of the Living Arts. An indigo glow overtook the stage and trickled into the crowd until a bright purple hue welcomed Rogers. She bounced onto the stage with the same infectious smile from a few hours before. Dressed in a simple white tee, jeans, and a brown jacket, which quickly came off from the collective heat, Rogers opened the sacred show with “It Was Coming All Along.”
The first lyric in the opening track on the album and the show encapsulated the energy of the room. “Everybody's going crazy,” she sang as the crowd roared. From here on, Rogers played the album top to bottom, in order. The crowd hung on her every word while she jumped down the tracklist. As Rogers strummed her way into “So Sick of Dreaming,” the crowd swayed in synchronicity and experienced what seemed to be collective catharsis. “The Kill” closed out the first section of the show, proving the range and theatricality of the record, the heavy drum beat guiding the crowd’s rapid pace.
The show’s concept already broke down barriers, but Roger’s didn’t stop there. In Taylor Swift fashion, Roger’s weaved in and out of the album with “surprise songs.” However, Rogers took it a step further by asking the audience for song requests. The only rules? To act like civilized adults, not talk over each other, and “Be Cool,” a song from her last album, which she played a few minutes later. Along with the “Surrender” track, Rogers played “Shatter,” “Dog Years,” and the famous “Alaska” before resuming “Don’t Forget Me.”
Throughout the whole set, Rogers kept her energy high, jumping across the stage in an effort to feel the music through her entire body. From soulful tracks like “I Still Do” and “All The Same” to dynamic ones like “On & On & On,” Rogers dedicated herself to the music emitting an effervescent freedom on stage.
Though her artistry is undeniable and astonishing, she makes a visible effort to have fun on stage. During her next song request section of the show, Rogers asked audience members for gossip in exchange for songs. From tales of high school anguish to a heartfelt proposal, Rogers found a deeper connection with her fans. Like old friends gabbing back and forth, she let her authenticity show. Rogers went on to dedicate “Love You For A Long Time” to the newly engaged couple and play a number of requests from each gossiper. Her angelic voice mixed with the sharp musicality of her band transcended through each song, all sung with no preparation. She joked that the crowd chose her most vocally challenging songs then proceeded to perform each one flawlessly—from “Say It” to “Burning” to “That’s Where I Am.”
She offered up a fake wave goodbye before returning with her heart on her sleeve and a noticeably gracious disposition. “I would not get to do any version of this without you and the community you created,” she admitted. “It’s so rare and so special. And it allows me to be so loose and real and honest with you, and I thank you for that,” she said as she transitioned her way into the vulnerable closing title track, “Don’t Forget Me.” The crowd belted, “Take my money, wreck my Sundays,” and meant it, knowing that the next morning they’d all have to wake up, start their grueling weeks, and live with only a memory of this wondrous night. Rogers just smiled as she pleaded. “Don’t forget me.”
Maggie Rogers will embark on her first arena tour this year.