Olivia Rodrigo returns to Schottenstein for second Columbus show

Olivia Rodrigo performed her first of two Columbus concerts at the Schottenstein Center on Tuesday evening. The venue at 555 Borror Dr. hosted the Grammy-winning artist for the opening night of The Unraveled Tour.

The tour promotes Rodrigo’s third studio album, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” which arrived in stores on June 12. The record explores themes of romance and subsequent heartbreak. The live show mirrors this narrative structure by organizing the setlist into four distinct seasonal acts: spring, summer, fall, and winter.

British rock band Wolf Alice opened the evening. Their set concluded with “Don’t Delete The Kisses.” When the lights dimmed for Rodrigo’s entrance, a screen displayed an image of her lying in pink flowers. Her band played an instrumental version of “drop dead” before launching into the opening track. Pink confetti fell over the audience as the first act began.

The spring segment featured floral decorations covering the main stage. Rodrigo performed “u + me = <3” and “good 4 u” while interacting with fans projected on the backdrop. A golden light transitioned the arena into the summer act. She re-entered for “my way” and later played “serena joy,” a single released on Aug. 24. That song commemorates her Daisy Chain Fields festival, which took place on Aug. 29 in Irvine, California.

The performance shifted to darker tones for the fall segment. Rodrigo performed “stupid song” and “maggots for brains,” the latter of which included a call-and-response section with the crowd. She also debuted “pretty isn’t pretty” as an unannounced song. Smoke effects accompanied her rendition of “cigarette smoke,” marking a high point in the emotional intensity of the evening.

Winter arrived with a simulated snowfall on stage. Rodrigo played “driver’s license” and “favorite crime” on the piano. During the track “the cure,” rain poured over her, melting her dress to reveal a red bodysuit underneath. The set returned to spring for the final numbers, including “deja vu” and “expectations.”

While wearing a T-shirt that read “Dr. Amy Acton for Governor,” Rodrigo endorsed the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor. She urged the audience to vote in the upcoming election. The concert concluded with an energetic performance of “all american b, -”.

Rodrigo is scheduled to perform a second show at the Schottenstein Center on Friday at 7 p.m., according to the venue’s website.