Rina Sawayama Takes Reloaded Tour to NYC

Rina Sawayama returned to Pier 17 in New York City for a show on her Hold The Girl: Reloaded Tour on Saturday, August 12th. Sawayama last performed in NYC back in June during the Governors Ball Music Festival and two times last November as a part of the original Hold The Girl Tour. Fans of Sawayama are plentiful in NYC and continued to show their support by selling out the new show just like the others. As a part of Sawayama’s fourth major tour, she brought the show to a new venue: The Rooftop at Pier 17. With the backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge and looking out onto the East River and skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan, Sawayama declared that it may have been her favorite venue that she has ever played at.

NYC fans were in for a treat as they had two openers: Disko Cowboy and Magdalena Bay. Disko Cowboy was up first with a hype set of remixes of songs like, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” by ABBA and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” by Shania Twain. Magdalena Bay followed. The synth-pop and electronic duo captured the attention of fans with their live instrumentals and unique sounds, including songs “Killshot” and “Top Dog.”

The next part of the show was the main event: Rina Sawayama. As the lights flickered and dancers prepared, Sawayama came on stage in a beautiful white dress to a dramatic version of “Hold The Girl.” She followed with the uplifting “Catch Me In The Air” and a shortened version of “Hurricanes.” Following was an outfit change into a leather bodysuit and two songs new to the setlist: “Dynasty” and “Akasaka Sad” off her first album Sawayama. As the night continued, she played more songs and more outfit changes occurred, including into a breezy white button-up and baggy jeans. Sawayama later shortened “Phantom,” added “Tokyo Love Hotel,” and took time to introduce the meaningful “Send My Love To John.” She also performed a new unreleased song called “Scream It.” The encore included her outfit being pulled away to reveal a Madonna-like, red two-piece as she performed “XS.” Sawayama was then surprised by her team with a cake and the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” for her birthday on August 16th. With the energy high, she closed the night with help from the audience while singing “This Hell.”

The main differences in the setlist between the Hold The Girl Tour and the Hold The Girl: Reloaded Tour were the losses of “Minor Feelings,” “Your Age,” “Holy (Til You Let Me Go),” “Forgiveness,” and “To Be Alive,” and the additions of “Dynasty,” “Akasaka Sad,” “Break Stuff,” “Tokyo Love Hotel,” and “Scream It.”

The dancers on the stage were captivating in their movements and expressions, highlighting Sawayama well. In addition, the guitarist and drummer highlighted both the dancers and Sawayama and brought the songs to a new level. Sawayama stops at Leeds Festival and Reading Festival and then continues the Hold The Girl: Reloaded Tour throughout September and October. Tickets can be found here.