Many students and even a teacher of Monticello High School over the course of spring break attended the anticipated concert of the Guts Tour performed by Olivia Rodrigo with opener Chappell Roan. This concert includes performances from her first album Sour, but the main focus was on her sophomore album, Guts. The attendees each had different and inspiring experiences from their night spent on this tour.
I have been a fan of Olivia Rodrigo since I saw her movie of the American Girl Doll I owned, Grace Stirs Up Success. As an 8 year old, I connected with her character so much because of how pretty she was and her hobby of baking. Then I found Olivia acting in the Disney shows Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and then got into her music career when she released “Drivers License” as her debut single on her first solo album, Sour. For me, that is what makes Olivia so separate from the other artists I love: I’ve loved her from all different worlds and times
I attended the Guts Tour on March 12 in St. Louis, MO. My time at the Guts tour was spent from 4:30 am to 10:30 pm with the VIP experience. I got in line, number 15, at around 4:45 am. I camped out with an amazing group of people and got super close with two girls. We went to the Guts Bus together, which was fully purple and had Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts all over.
My favorite performances were “Love Is Embarrassing” because of the actress energy Olivia gave and the quirky dance. It was fascinating to watch, and I relate to that song so much. I also loved “Obsessed” because of the anticipation I had seeing it, “Can’t Catch Me Now” because I’m a huge The Hunger Games fan, and “Teenage Dream” because it truly moved me the most, seeing her baby videos play in the background. I loved getting to scream out all of my bottled emotions and anger to “All American Bi*ch.” My other favorite to hear live was “Deja Vu” because it was just so beautiful and relaxing and her vocal changes were amazing.
I got barricade, which means front row, and had the best experience. Olivia stared at me during “Pretty Isn’t Pretty” while I cried through the passion of that beautiful and most favorite song. I touched her when she walked by, and she performed super close to me almost the whole show. Her dancers were interactive and also on social media after the show. My picture I took there was included on Rodrigo’s verified account with hundreds of thousands of likes alongside other fans and Olivia’s picture!
The opener Chappell Roan, a semi new pop queer artist, was absolutely perfect and phenomenal in her role as opener. I loved singing her songs with her and making her feel loved at her home state show. I had the best time and such a cool experience that I will forever be grateful for. Every song, lyric, and move was magical and connected to my heart so thoroughly that I know I will never forget it.
Other peers from MHS, including Ruby McHale and Jamie Clodfelter, attended the St. Louis show together. Sophomore Jamie Clodfelter explained, “My favorite song she performed was ‘Can’t Catch Me Now;’ it was a great surprise. My seat was almost at the very top, and I still had the best time. I could see almost everything thanks to the screen behind the stage. This was my first ever concert, and I’m thankful I got the opportunity to see her.”
Sophomore Ruby McHale, who was alongside Clodfelter during this experience, shared, “My favorite songs overall are probably ‘Making The Bed’ and ‘Lacy’ but my favorite song performed was definitely ‘Logical’ because the stars and the moon were so cool! This was my first ever concert! I loved the screen graphics, colors, set, and outfits.” Seeing that two students attended their first concert ever as sophomores can prove that you can go and see any artist you wish at any time.
Olivia Rodrigo has fans worldwide obviously, but more locally, school wide. Sophomore Chloe Silver, who is a fan but did not get to attend the Guts Tour, noted, “My favorite song from Guts is ‘Pretty isn’t Pretty.’ This song, to me, captures such an emotion that is so hard to describe, and she does a great job at doing it. The feeling of trying and trying but never seeing the result you want, I feel, is how so many people feel all of the time. I could listen to this song on repeat and never get tired of it because of how honest it is.” She continued on, saying, “The Guts tour looks so fascinating to me with how open and interactive she is with her fans. Seeing her on the crescent moon being lifted above the crowd is such a neat idea.”
A few other MHS students attended the tour, but even an MHS faculty member, Dr. Hendrickson, teacher of dual credit English Composition 101 and 102 and English, attended the Guts Tour in Nashville, Tennessee. Hendrickson shared, “My favorite performances were ‘Logical’ and ‘Enough for You’ when she was on the floating moon! I became an Olivia fan as soon as I listened to Sour for the first time, no skips! The experience was amazing! My sister and I were in the second row to the side of the stage, so we had a great view! I didn’t know anything about Chappell Roan, her opening act, and she was amazing! I listen to her album all the time now!”
Not only did these Monticello High School attendees spill their guts, they filled their guts, as well. Concerts let you take away more than just travel and money and singing along. From these stories and experiences, it is obvious that Olivia Rodrigo and her music that touches the teenage and even adult soul can heal a part of lives. From screaming the words from Sour all about heartbreak, tension between a girl and life, and destruction to the soul to Guts (Spilled) which is about the confusion of growing up, the awkwardness of humanity, and a sense of healing through acceptance and one act of love, made the night a whirlwind of art and poetry. Olivia Rodrigo gave every one of us these experiences only because of her bravery and boldness to spill her guts and business to her fans, so that we can be brave enough to spill our guts too.
Kendall Eades, Staff Writer
The Sage Informer 
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