Phoebe Bridgers Starts Autumn in Chicago
Chicago, Illinois - September 18, 2026
It was a crisp autumn evening this past Friday when Phoebe Bridgers took the stage for two nights at Chicago’s United Center.
After a brief hiatus, indie-rock star Phoebe Bridgers— known for her melancholic and deeply personal lyrics— bounced back with her third solo album on Aug. 14, Lost Weekend, taking on themes of grief, romantic collapse, and isolation, with a touch of medieval visuals. Phoebe certainly kept her fans fed with this record. Before the show on Sept. 18, fans were bustling in the stadium; the foyer was loud with excited voices rambling in every direction. Fans were dressed up in all themes of Phoebe’s discography, ranging from skeleton onesies to medieval attire reflective of her latest music video for one of the singles from the latest album, “Lost Boys.”
The venue was mellow as the crowd slowly started to creep in; already, it felt like a sleeping giant with the amount of people in the room. This was a unique show as Phoebe Bridgers advocated for the show to be completely phone-free. At the security check, fans were asked to keep their phones in locked Yondr pouches to not distract from the show and abide by Phoebe’s wishes. This show was certainly meant to be intimate and personal. There were two set stages on either side of the venue, with one side being an inflated hemisphere with teal curtains behind while the seating sections towered above. The crowd felt warm, and fans were open to making friendly exchanges and small talk.
Singer-songwriter and contributor to Phoebe’s album, Alex G, opened the show with vibrant guitar solos and a mix of DIY-lofi sounds on the rear stage in the venue. Despite the crowd still slowly coming in, the arena was roaring with cheers for the opener.
Photo Credit: Matt Grub @mattgrubb.americas.waffle
As the show’s intermission was coming to a close, the lights in the arena dimmed, and the crowd immediately erupted, anticipating the beloved musician. The half-sphere then slowly lifted off the ground, revealing Phoebe and her band while creating a circle-shaped projection screen above the stage. As the somber and ambient intro began while the lights slowly turned orange, Phoebe began to play “Motion Sickness.” For the next hour, she would begin to cycle through a mix of her discography ranging from her latest release to her albums Punisher and Stranger in the Alps. Fans stayed consistent in singing along to all of her songs while the visuals started to take on a planetarium theme. She addressed and greeted the crowd, “What the fuck is up, Chicago!” Stars and planets decorated the stage as the band played. As Phoebe played the last chorus for “Lost Boys”, fans took out lighters bought from the merch stand and began to wave and sway.
As it reached the middle of the show, the show reached an interlude to transfer to the second stage, and Phoebe quickly ran through the crowd. Multi-colored lights and fog filled the stadium as she began to play soft piano while sitting on the floor of the stage and began “Funeral,” followed by “Graceland Too” and “Haunted”. After switching back to the main stage, she exchanges a funny conversation with a crowd member about their tattoo. She then goes on to address her appreciation while reflecting on her recent mental-health struggles after her father's passing and acknowledging “Free Palestine.” From the half-circle screen, incredible glitter visuals mixed with lasers begin to light up the crowd’s faces as she plays “Waiting Room.” The show was emotionally heavy, with a swaying crowd full of cheers and lots of tears. The song had an emotional ambient build-up with a raging climax of guitar and drums. She then moved on to the hauntingly beautiful “I Know The End.” The venue felt like a warm bonfire, with Phoebe controlling the heat as she lit up the room with flashing red lights and tornado visuals on the screen as she screamed at the end of the song, and the whole crowd followed. Fans released their emotions and hearts out into the venue as it echoed.
The next outfit change had Phoebe decked out in a glow-in-the-dark fluorescent dress and matching shoes. Her hair also had a glow effect, given that it’s a brighter blonde-white tone. She also sported glittery teardrop makeup. Shortly after she played “Lost Boys Reprise,” she began the nostalgic and famously melancholic “Scott Street.” She expressed gratitude for her band and, after the last note, she thanked the audience as the lights went up and the show ended.
Overall, walking into the show with zero expectations, it was a complete encapsulation of her latest album: an emotional rollercoaster with an optimistic ending. The audience was attentive to her wishes and displayed an overwhelming sense of love and community.
Chicago was one of her first stops, though “The Lost Tour” runs until December 12. Get tickets here.
