Kesha’s The Only Love Tour arrived in Los Angeles on November 18th. Fans and kids of all ages arrived early at the Hollywood Palladium, hoping for a good spot in the General Admission area. As I entered the venue, the merch line wrapped around the entire inside, filled with excited fans who couldn't wait to get their hands on Kesha shirts and hoodies. Kicking off the night was Jake Wesley Rogers, the Missouri native who brought down the house with his brightly colored outfit and a very entertaining performance. Within the first few notes, it was immediately obvious that his incredibly powerful vocals were the reason Kesha chose him as her opening act.

The introduction to Kesha’s hit “Only Love Can Save Us Now” began promptly at 9:15pm, which was met with excited screams from the sold out crowd. Although this is one of her newer songs, the audience did not disappoint, shouting the words in real time along with Kesha herself. The next song was “TikTok,” the hit that originally introduced me to her music when I was in middle school. Within the first note, all 4,000 people in attendance put their phones in the air to record the iconic song. Following that was a mashup of “Cannibal” and “Backstabber.” Both from her 2010 Animal album, the former of the two went viral on TikTok a few years back, introducing a younger generation to Kesha’s music. Her setlist was filled with both classic hits and new favorites, making sure there was something in store for everyone who attended.

One of the most memorable songs of the show was her 2010 hit “Take It Off,” in which the singer asked the audience to throw their clothes to her on stage. Soon afterwards, there were all types of clothing littering the stage, including shirts, shorts, bras, and several jockstraps. Later in the show, Kesha asked the audience what song they wanted her to sing: “Happy” or “Rainbow,” and the crowd chose the latter. She sat down to perform this song, resulting in the crowd waving their flashlights back and forth to the rhythm of the song as they sang along.

Kesha stated that this was her first tour she’s been on in her life where she has been free, which was met from endless cheers of support from the entire room. Towards the end of the show, she made a very moving speech, stating “Whatever color your skin is, wherever you’re from, whoever you love, however you identify, whoever you are, whatever makes you you, I fucking love you and you belong here.” Creating a safe space for everyone at shows is a sign of a great artist. Concert moments like these are one of the top reasons I love live music. Providing a space where everyone feels the freedom to be themselves is something that not everyone gets to experience and can be lifesaving for someone struggling to be their authentic self. After revisiting older tracks “Your Love Is My Drug,” “Die Young,” and “Blow, ”Kesha ended the night on a high note with an encore of her hit ballad “Praying” and the oldie “We R Who We R.”

With top notch dances, a stage design like no other, and hits from several decades, there is a reason why Kesha is considered an icon. It was truly the biggest honor to experience Kesha’s Only Love Tour for myself and I hope to see her shows again and again for many years to come.

Review & Photos by: Nicole Ditt

Like what you read? Follow our social media and playlist for the latest in independent music:

Kesha Commands the Stage at LA's Hollywood Palladium