Pink's Funhouse Tour made a stop at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia Monday night and I got to take in the show from the front row! The Ting Tings were the opening act (I adore them) but they didn't bring the house down like Pink did.
THE TING TINGS
I have long been a fan of The Ting Tings so I was really psyched when they came on stage. They had energy and performed perfectly. But the crowd didn't seem to share my enthusiasm. The stadium hadn't filled to capacity yet so that might have had something to do with it. It certainly wasn't from a lack of a good performance. I would've danced a little more if the crowd around me had been revved up, though. I overheard someone say, "That didn't go very well," after their set was done. Bummer because I really love them and I think they didn't get the appreciation they deserved.
PINK
Any lack of enthusiasm quickly dissipated when Pink came down from the ceiling in a bright orange, feathered gown. Even before she appeared, the crowd was going wild over an introductory video montage of Pink set to AC/DC's "Highway to Hell."
Pink sang every song live...she is adamantly against lip syncing. What amazes me though is that you can't even tell the difference between her live voice and her recorded one. She's that good.
She talked to the crowd quite a bit, sharing stories of her recent adventures, accepting gifts from her fans (dozens of miniature frogs were thrown on stage from all angles at one point and Pink said, "Does everyone in Fairfax know each other?"), and even acknowledging boos that came during her performance of "Dear Mr. President."
She said it was the first time she'd been booed, but said "dissent is good." It definitely stood out to her, though, because she took to Twitter to discuss it after the show, which set off a firestorm of tweets from angry fans who dissed Virginians and anyone who has a different political opinion than Pink.
Pink was quick to let her fans know that it didn't bother her, though, and that she "happen(s) to like VA."
I happen to love Pink's outspoken nature and her ability to express how she feels through spoken words or music (and I'm a conservative...and no I did not boo!). Without that kind of passion, the crowd would never have been treated to her heartbreaking rendition of "Family Portrait," a song about a broken family from a child's perspective.
Pink looked on the verge of tears and the crowd themselves were definitely shedding a few themselves. She sang with such emotion and depth that you couldn't help but be moved by her.
Her passion extended to a more physical nature as she did a slow version of Divinyls' "I Touch Myself." It was at this point that I wondered why ANY parent would bring their child to an adult show (and there were many who did). As Pink is splayed out on a couch, hands reach through holes and caress her body. At one point, Pink does what the song says...she touches herself and then puts her fingers in her mouth. Definitely hot. Definitely erotic. Definitely not for kids!
Pink's performance alone was enough to enthrall, but the pillow fights with feathers flying, aerial acrobatic stunts (Pink was unable to perform the scene she did at the VMA's due to a shoulder injury...a replacement stood in for her instead), confetti falling from the air...it was all just dazzling!
SETLIST
1. "Highway to Hell" (opening video montage)
2. "Bad Influence"
3. "Just Like A Pill"
4. "Who Knew"
5. "It's All Your Fault"/"Ave Mary A"
6. "Don't Let Me Get Me"
7. "I Touch Myself" (Divinyls cover)
8. "Please Don't Leave Me"
9. "U + Ur Hand"
10. "Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)"
11. "So What"
12. "Family Portrait"
13. "I Don't Believe You"
14. "Dear Mr. President"
15. "Trouble"
16. "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" (Led Zeppelin cover)
17. "Sober"
18. "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Queen cover)
19. "Funhouse"
20. "Crazy" (Gnarls Barkley cover)
Encore
21. "Get the Party Started"
22. "Glitter In The Air"
FUNHOUSE TOUR TIP
If you're planning to see Pink's Funhouse Tour in your area (and I HIGHLY recommend that you do), the best seats are general admission floor if you can get them. I was able to get to the front row but noticed many people standing around the end of the thrust stage in the middle of the floor.
I quickly found out why, as Pink sang many of her songs there and had the most interaction with her fans there (those of us in the front row had a barricade that left a buffer of about five feet from the stage). It's also where she makes her entrance and where most of the aerial performances take place. And during the finale, as she is resting in a sheer cloth hanging from the ceiling, she is dipped below the floor and comes back up soaking wet. Amazing.
So, go if you can go, get a floor ticket and get thyself to the center of the thrust stage! You won't regret it.
Disclosure: I received two complimentary tickets to this show to facilitate this review.
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