LEWIS: Billie Eilish serves vocals, visuals, variety in Omaha

Photo courtesy of Henry Hwu

Billie Eilish took over Omaha with her “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” Tour at the CHI Health Center on Nov. 17. This is the 22-year-old’s seventh headlining tour, following the release of her third studio album of the same name. 

A video that played twice before the show explained Eilish’s sustainable efforts while on tour. Partnering with REVERB, Eilish encouraged fans to travel to the venue using public transportation, avoid buying new fast-fashion pieces and bring a reusable water bottle into the venue. The video also showed how Eilish and her team are using sustainable practices for their own transportation and the sourcing of merchandise. 

The opening act for Eilish was Nat & Alex Wolff, also known as the Naked Brothers Band. I had never heard their music prior to their set, but they’ve certainly made a fan out of me. Their electric energy of running around the stage while singing to the emotional, delicate songs made their performance captivating. 

The crowd’s energy before Eilish took the stage was unmatched, chanting Eilish’s name and holding signs. A large cage descended from the ceiling just minutes before Eilish was set to take the stage. When the lights finally went out, a projection of a white screen covered the cage, and the instrumentals started. 

Through the projection, fans could only catch flickering glimpses of Eilish. Fans showed their rising anticipation by screaming as the cage rose back up again. Eilish opened with “CHIHIRO” from her newest album, singing and dancing on top of the cage. 

Immediately, I was transfixed by Eilish’s stage presence. The energy she brings to the stage is contagious. Her ability to jump and dance around while still sounding her best is truly phenomenal. 

Eilish’s show differs from others I’ve seen at the CHI Health Center, as her rectangular stage was in the middle of the arena. This stage not only allowed her the opportunity to fill every seat in the arena, but also helped the night feel more personal. Eilish’s crowd work is excellent, and she was able to face every member of the audience because of her stage’s layout. 

The entire production of the show was a sight to behold. Eilish’s undeniable talents as a performer were elevated with the lasers, smoke and the moving cage that doubled as a big screen at times. Feeling the heat from pyrotechnics on my face and clapping along to songs with an entire arena made the experience immersive. During certain songs, Eilish would carry a camera pointed at her face, giving the audience an intimate view of the singer.

One of the most exceptional moments of the show was when Eilish told the entire arena to be quiet. For an entire magical minute, the only sound in the massive space was Eilish as she recorded her voice for live looping. She stacked harmonies to create a base for “when the party’s over.” Later in the song, she laid down on the stage, creating a soft, yet moving performance. 

The setlist was stacked with songs spanning across Eilish’s career, including “bad guy” from her debut album, ‘WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?,’ “NDA” from her sophomore album ‘Happier Than Ever’ and “ocean eyes” from her 2017 EP, “dont smile at me.”

The show had something for everyone, such as thrilling songs that got the audience jumping to the beat and more emotional songs that warrant swaying while holding up a phone’s flashlight. At one point, Eilish instructed the audience to sit down and take a break while she sang some of her more laid back songs.

Another highlight was when Eilish played instruments herself. Eilish’s electric guitar on “Happier Than Ever” was enthralling. When Eilish played the acoustic guitar on “TV” and the keyboard on “idontwanttobeyouanymore,” she tapped into a certain emotion that can only be expressed through the medium of a musical instrument, and it was particularly touching. 

The songs with softer instrumentation on them gave space for Eilish’s vocals to do the heavy lifting. Eilish is an incredibly talented vocalist. When she broke into the industry, her sound is what defined her as an artist. I almost prefer the time to just hear her voice and not much else. 

One song that showed off Eilish’s voice particularly well was “What Was I Made For?” which was written for the 2023 movie, “Barbie.” Eilish and her brother, FINNEAS, won their second Oscar for the song. 

My favorite song of the evening was “THE GREATEST.” Based on the studio recordings of Eilish’s songs, I was not expecting “THE GREATEST” to even be in my top songs of the concert, but I was pleasantly blown away. Hearing Eilish’s live vocals and drums on the live version raised this song to the top of my list. I felt such a connection to the song as it was performed live, and I have such a newfound appreciation for it. 

The song I had the most fun singing along to was “Guess,” which is actually a song by Charli xcx that Eilish is featured on. During the first verse, Charli xcx’s voice could be heard over the speakers. When it was time for Eilish’s verse, she was launched up and onto a side stage. The flashing lights took on the ionic “BRAT” green color. 

Throughout the show, Eilish would stop and talk to the crowd. Thanking her fans for always having her back, she promised to always fight for those who don’t feel like they have a voice. In a moment of relatability, she talked about the cowlick in her hair with her two backup singers, Ava and Jane Horner. The three took turns parting their hair and showing off their cowlicks to the camera. 

The show concluded with “BIRDS OF A FEATHER.” Confetti rained down as Billie took one last lap around the stage, waving to all of her fans. 

Overall, Eilish’s “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” Tour is a culmination of her shifting and nuanced sound throughout the past years. Anyone with an opportunity to watch Eilish live should seize it. Her performance led to so much more appreciation for the variety in her discography. The young artist is unparalleled by anyone else in the business. 

Published in the Daily Nebraskan, read here.