Review: Taylor Swift's Indy Performance Outshines Cincinnati Shows

When Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” made a stop in Cincinnati last summer, the city went wild.

Taylor Swift-themed bars popped up, fans lined the street for merch and $92 million was generated locally on food, hotels and parking, among other areas. At least 95% of hotel rooms in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky were full that last weekend in June 2023.

The show itself has been universally acclaimed as a dazzling retrospective on an 18-year career (since Swift’s eponymous debut album was released in 2006). But in April of this year, Swift released The Tortured Poets Department, her eleventh studio album, which was expanded into a double album two hours after its release with a whopping 31 songs.

The album ended up being Spotify’s most pre-saved album in history and had 700,000 first week sales—in vinyls alone. Streaming wise, The Tortured Poets Department became Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single day in history in less than 12 hours after its release, becoming the first album ever to garner more than 300 million streams in a single day.

This incredible success led to Swift adding a section to “The Eras Tour” for The Tortured Poets Department, one that Cincinnati was not witness to. This also changed the overall setlist, leading to several songs being cut, including “The Archer,” “Long Live” and “Tolerate It.” The folklore and evermore sections were also combined into the aptly named “Folkmore” section.

Over the weekend, Swift performed in Indianapolis for the last ever U.S. tour dates for “The Eras Tour.” The three sold-out performances broke attendance records, with more than 69,000 people at each show. CityBeat was at the first performance of the weekend on Friday, Nov. 1 — and here’s what we saw.

As one attendee said before Swift came on stage, “The Eras Tour” is like “Taylor DisneyLand.” Hordes of fans clamor around to take photos for other people without having to be asked (because they all know the importance of angles). Security guards and cops swap friendship bracelets with Swifties, and even the volunteers standing out in the cold (it was a low of 39 degrees on Friday in Indy) were ecstatic, passing out light up wristbands and directing Swiftie traffic.

A mother and daughter from western Indiana got floor tickets after trying for “at least 10 years.” The daughter ended up buying VIP tickets — accidentally. “I don’t even know how I bought these,” she said. “I blacked out and checked out.” Her mother ended up taking more videos of her singing to Taylor Swift than of Taylor Swift, and they wore matching “The Best Day” bracelets, a Taylor Swift song dedicated to her mother, Andrea.

A nearby father took his young daughter to the show, who ended up making friends with another young girl in front of them, there with her mom and dad (clad in matching Midnights outfits and face jewels). The two girls stood on their chairs throughout the show, craning their necks for a glimpse of the pop star.

After Swift’s piano performance of “champagne problems” during the “Folkmore” section, fans gave her a 10-minute ovation, complete with stomping feet like thunder rumbling. She told the audience: “Indy, I’ll never forget that.”

The show went smoothly, with only a few snags at the end. Swift’s mic pack died during her final Midnights section, leading to a battery change mid-performance of “Lavender Haze.” The pop star could be seen tapping her foot while the batteries were being changed. Even though she couldn’t hear herself, she never stopped singing.

A lot of people praise Swift for this professionalism — and she is a consummate performer — but she’s been doing it for 18 years. She’s had most of the same bandmates for that time; Paul Sidoti, lead guitarist and vocalist, has been playing with Swift since 2007. Kamilah Marshall, vocalist and dancer, has been with Swift since the Red tour in 2013. The pop star has built a team around her that refuses to let her down or slip up — something to celebrate.

While Swift is the biggest pop star in the world and can be omnipresent at times, it is almost impossible to deny her talent and poise. Not many pop stars can keep the same guitarist for 17 years and counting, or turn the Lucas Oil Stadium into Taylor Disneyland.

“The Eras Tour” will have its final stops in Toronto (Nov. 14-16, 21-23) and Vancouver (Dec. 6-8). Swift has yet to announce Reputation (Taylor’s Version) or Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version), so fans could expect an announcement at these final shows.