When I walked into the United Center for Olivia Rodrigo’s show on March 19th, 2024, the buzz in the air was undeniable. The arena pulsed with that pre-show electricity that only happens when thousands of people are gathered for the same reason: to scream, cry, and sing their hearts out together. I’ve been to plenty of concerts at this venue, but there was something about this night that felt instantly different. Maybe it was the sheer volume of fans in their glitter makeup and DIY “GUTS” shirts. Maybe it was the number of conversations I overheard from people saying this was their first concert ever. Or maybe it was the knowledge that Olivia Rodrigo isn’t just on tour—she’s in the middle of cementing herself as one of this generation’s defining pop voices.
From the second the lights went down, I knew this wasn’t going to be a standard pop show—it was going to be a communal experience, one that blended teenage angst, raw confession, and euphoric release into a rollercoaster that the United Center will be talking about for a long time.
The Opening Blast
The show kicked off with “bad idea right?”, and it set the perfect tone. The stage lights strobed in neon pinks and purples, and Olivia appeared with that playful smirk, leaning into the microphone as the entire arena shouted back the lyrics. Hearing tens of thousands of people scream “seeing you tonight is a bad idea, right?” made me realize how Olivia has turned her messy, deeply personal stories into universal anthems. The song had all the looseness and fun of a garage band jam, and it immediately made the massive space of the United Center feel intimate, like we were all in on the same secret.
From there, she barely gave us time to breathe before diving into “ballad of a homeschooled girl.” Live, this track felt bigger, grittier, and louder than the studio version. Olivia prowled the stage, her voice dripping with sarcasm and frustration, and it hit me just how much she leans into her punk influences when she’s in front of a crowd. The crowd lost it during the shouted “I broke a glass, I tripped on the way!” lines, and I found myself laughing and yelling along. By the end of the second song, Olivia had already transformed the arena into a diary ripped wide open.
And then came “vampire.” This song has always had a cinematic quality on record, but live, it was something else entirely. Olivia stood center stage in a single spotlight, her delivery almost trembling at first before swelling into that explosive chorus. The screen behind her flashed deep reds and blacks, and it felt like a true gut-punch moment—her voice slicing through the United Center with raw precision. It was the first time of the night that I got chills.
The Emotional Core
The transition into “traitor” and “drivers license” marked the show’s emotional anchor. You could hear the sobs around me during “traitor,” and Olivia herself seemed to feed off that energy, almost pausing to let the crowd take over the chorus. But it was “drivers license” that turned the night into something unforgettable. This was the song that started it all, and in Chicago, you could feel the weight of it. Thousands of flashlights lit up the arena like a starry sky as Olivia’s voice cracked slightly on the line “I still fuckin’ love you.” It was the kind of moment that felt historic—you knew everyone in the building would remember it years from now.
She kept that introspective energy going with “teenage dream,” which she introduced with a few words about growing older in the spotlight and struggling with identity. The song hit harder live, its melancholy stretching over the audience like a blanket. By the time she moved into “pretty isn’t pretty” and “love is embarrassing,” the mood lightened slightly, but the vulnerability remained. Those songs, especially back-to-back, really showcased Olivia’s gift: she writes with the rawness of someone scribbling in a journal at 3 a.m., but she performs with the conviction of a rock star who knows every word matters.
The Intimate Middle
One of the most surprising moments came when Olivia covered “making the bed” by Phoebe Bridgers. I wasn’t expecting it, but it fit seamlessly into the night’s flow. It was hushed, dreamlike, and gave Olivia a chance to show a softer side. You could hear a pin drop in the United Center during that performance, and for a venue that big, that’s almost impossible.
Then came “logical” and “enough for you,” which felt like a double gut-punch. These songs aren’t flashy, but live, they landed with devastating impact. Olivia sat at the piano for “enough for you,” and it was probably the most vulnerable moment of the entire night. I couldn’t help but notice the audience around me mouthing every single word, tears streaming down their faces—it was therapy in song form.
She kept the subdued mood going with “lacy,” which floated across the arena like a fever dream, and then pulled us out of it with “jealousy, jealousy.” That one hit with snarling energy, Olivia practically spitting the lyrics while the crowd jumped in unison. It was a perfectly executed transition from self-reflection back into full-on catharsis.
Building Toward Chaos
The mid-to-late section of the setlist was where the show truly caught fire again. “Can’t Catch Me Now,” her haunting contribution to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, brought a cinematic weight. Flames and dark visuals filled the screens, and it was mesmerizing to see how Olivia leaned into the song’s dystopian mood.
Then came a whirlwind run of tracks: “happier,” “favorite crime,” and “deja vu.” Each one landed like a different stage of heartbreak. “happier” had the crowd swaying arm-in-arm, while “favorite crime” was stripped-down and intimate. But “deja vu” brought the house down—the moment she hit the sarcastic bite of “strawberry ice cream in Malibu,” the crowd roared in recognition, singing the entire chorus louder than Olivia herself.
And then came “the grudge.” The song is devastating on record, but live, it was absolutely brutal in the best way. Her voice cracked just enough to feel real, and I think every person in that arena felt their stomach sink with her.
Just when it seemed like the energy might dip too far into melancholy, Olivia unleashed the chaos of “brutal.” The guitars ripped, the drums thundered, and the United Center turned into a punk show for a few minutes. People were jumping, moshing in spots, and yelling every word. Following it up with “obsessed” was genius—it’s one of her snarkiest songs, and it gave the setlist a jolt of fun attitude.
She wrapped the main set with “all-american bitch,” and it felt like the ultimate exclamation point. Watching Olivia strut across the stage, shifting from sweet vocals to guttural screams, you couldn’t help but think: this is a star who’s only just getting started.
The Encore Explosion
Of course, no Olivia Rodrigo concert would be complete without an encore that leaves you both breathless and buzzing. She returned to the stage to an earth-shaking roar for “good 4 u.” The crowd practically drowned her out, screaming every word like their lives depended on it. It was pure release—three minutes of chaos, catharsis, and joy.
Finally, she closed with “get him back!” and it was the perfect ending. The cheeky, playful lyrics, the call-and-response vibe, the sheer fun of it all—it tied together everything the night had been about: heartbreak, anger, self-discovery, and finding joy even in the mess. Confetti rained down, the band played their hearts out, and Olivia grinned ear to ear as she waved goodbye to Chicago.
Final Thoughts
Walking out of the United Center that night, I felt like I’d just witnessed a cultural moment. Olivia Rodrigo isn’t just writing songs for teenagers—she’s writing anthems for anyone who’s ever felt messy, lost, heartbroken, or alive. Her ability to command an arena while still making it feel like a private conversation is rare, and it’s what makes her shows so powerful.
This wasn’t just a concert. It was a communal purge, a celebration of youth in all its chaotic beauty, and a reminder of how music can make us feel less alone. At only two albums in, Olivia Rodrigo has already proven she can craft a setlist that balances pop perfection, punk energy, and raw emotional truth. And on March 19, 2024, in Chicago, she proved she can deliver all of it live—better, louder, and more unforgettable than you could ever imagine.