LEWIS: Midwest princess Chappell Roan rules Council Bluffs
- izzylewismedia8
- Oct 7, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: May 28, 2025
Fifteen thousand fans, Chappell Roan’s largest headlining crowd, gathered to support the pop sensation at Westfair Amphitheater in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Oct. 3.
The last stop on her Midwest Princess Tour came after her album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts, a year after its release.
The night started with performances from three local drag queens: Domita Sanchez from Des Moines, Iowa, Daphne Danger from Iowa City, Iowa and Mimosa Savage from Omaha, Nebraska. Roan makes an emphasis on the importance of supporting local drag queens, drawing inspiration from the art of drag herself.
Roan kicked off her set with her anthem song “Femininomenon,” with thousands in the crowd singing along. The upbeat piece, with its call-and-response section, was the perfect way to get the concertgoers energized for the rest of the night.
Early in the show, Roan played an electric cover of “Barracuda” by Heart. Her band was captivating to watch, the three of them creating a powerhouse of a presence on stage alongside Roan. They were an absolute dream to listen to. No concert would be the same without a band, and Roan’s deserves all the kudos for their rousing performance.
The acoustic performance of “Coffee” was gorgeously intimate, much like the nature of the song. Roan’s voice over the lone guitar line was emotional and tender. The stripped, stationary performance gave listeners a direct glimpse at her vocal talent.
Of course, Roan orchestrated the crowd to perform the iconic “HOT TO GO!” dance that happens over the chorus of the song. In unison, fans spelled out the letters of the title with their arms. Seeing a venue of 15,000 people dance as one was nothing short of magical.
One of my favorite songs performed was “Good Luck, Babe!” This song was trending on TikTok for months, and its release is largely recognized as the turning point for Roan’s recent popularity. Roan’s magnetic presence on stage amplified the passion and the anger of the song.
Another standout song was Roan’s serenade, “Picture You,” sung to a green wig on a mic stand. The studio-recorded version of the song has always given me goosebumps, but Roan’s chilling vocals on the live rendition are unmatched.
Roan also played her unreleased song “The Subway” which debuted at New York City’s Governors Ball in June of this year. Roan has opted to only perform the song at certain performances, and Council Bluffs can count itself lucky for a chance to hear the song in person.
“This is my biggest headline show ever,” Roan said to the crowd. “I’m just so grateful it’s in the Midwest, it makes perfect sense.”
Roan is originally from Missouri and spoke about her experiences of living in the Midwest. She talked about how she used to work at the coffee franchise Scooters as well as the difficulties of being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I know how hard it is to exist as a queer person here,” Roan said. “It was really hard for me to push through at moments to be here.”
Fans enthusiastically chanted Roan back on the stage for an encore. She started it with a raw acapella opening of “California.” Then, her grand finale was the dynamic “Pink Pony Club.” A massive disco ball that descended from the ceiling reflected every feeling from the night.
Roan’s dichotomy of commanding the stage both for proud power anthems like “Red Wine Supernova,” and gentler, romantic ballads like “Love Me Anyway,” defines her ability as a performer. As Roan’s career continues to grow, I am looking forward to seeing her playing bigger venues. She is an absolute sight to behold.
Published for the Daily Nebraskan, read here.
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