Pop Break Live: Melanie Martinez “The K-12 Tour” with Lauren Ruth Ward at The Fillmore in Philadelpia
Melanie Martinez performed to a packed house at The Fillmore in Philadelphia on October 30. This quirky talented singer-songwriter/artist gained prominence from her stint on the hugely popular show The Voice in 2012 and has had a steady climb since. Martinez is touring in support of her new album, K-12, released in March. It’s her followup to her 2015 platinum selling album Cry Baby.
The opening act for the night was Baltimore native Lauren Ruth Ward. Her showmanship and energy exuded totally captivated this already amp’d up crowd and was a great way to start the show.
Martinez released an epic 90 minute music-based film that accompanies the album. It ventures into subject matter such as body image, bullying and self worth — no doubt relatable to many in the audience, and her fans the world over. You can see the progression in her work/themes from her first album Cry Baby to her newest release K-12 (Kindergarten to 12th Grade).
Some in the predominately female audience were dressed for the occasion. Many had pigtails and wore bows and school girl clothing. I saw a guy pull off his sweatshirt and jeans, right before she came out on stage, and underneath was a nurses outfit. He topped it off with a red wig. This was a really fun crowd and the fact it was Halloween Eve made it better.
Martinez played her K-12 album in order, front to back. There were many costume and set changes during the show. She was backed by an incredible group of dancers. The choreography on many of the songs was simply mesmerizing. She had a large screen in which videos and clips played that changed with each song she performed. Martinez also played songs from her debut album Cry Baby that included “Sippy Cup,” “Alphabet Boy” and “Mad Hatter.”
The show ended appropriately with “Fire Drill,” a song that plays during the credits of her K-12 film. There are a handful of female artists who in the past have created a different persona for themselves on albums, for example Marina Diamandis (formerly of Marina and The Diamonds) with her Electra Heart character. What Martinez has done here is pretty incredible. This was more then just a concert. Every song told a story. The combination of the visuals, dancers and theatrics felt like you were watching a small Broadway play. This is a wildly entertaining show and not to be missed.
Melanie Martinez Selist:
Wheels On the Bus
Class Fight
The Principal
Show & Tell
Nurse’s Office
Drama Club
Strawberry Shortcake
Lunchbox Friends
Orange Juice
Detention
Teacher’s Pet
High School Sweethearts
Recess
Sippy Cup
Alphabet Boy
Mad Hatter
Fire Drill
