How SZA Saved Our Souls [REVIEW]

S.O.S.: How SZA Saved Our Souls

By Zoe Blakeman – Photos by Roman Sobus

SZA’s second performance of her S.O.S. tour was here in Chicago last night at the enormous United Center. While her latest album, S.O.S., came out only a little over 2 months ago, it was anything but new music to the ears of her adoring and devoted fans which was practically the entire stadium.

On her album, she laughed, she cried, she felt heartbreak and in our seats, we felt it all as she performed each amazing song with tender emotion. The United Center was shaking with excitement as the screams of thousands struck through the arena. Between SZA, and her dancers, the lights, the props, and all that energy, it all collectively pulled the entire show together making it a hard show for other artists to top this year; it was truly phenomenal!

She started out by sitting on a diving board, like on the cover of her album, and sang PSA gently into her microphone, a screen came down in front of her and projected her silhouette. As the song ended, her projected silhouette then tossed the mic into the water and she dove in immediately thereafter. The splash of the water was highlighted with flashing lights and the crowd went insane, screaming like nothing I’d ever heard before.

SZA’s name was projected on the screen and when it lifted again, she was standing on the docks and singing Seek & Destroy. The setting for the docks was very detailed and impressive and she was joined by a group of four backup dancers, two electric guitar players and two sets of drums, one on either side of the stage. The sound was full and warm, but SZA kept her singing sharp and vulnerable to pull the crowd in. For every one of her jaw-dropping notes, the lights struck and the dancers took her energy and poured it out onto the stage.

Further showcasing the theme of the album, we see her on a boat, in the sea, she was even lifted into the sky on a raft while a lighthouse lit her up to make her yellow dress gleam gold. While she was in the raft, she floated atop blue lights that resembled calm waters before the storm. Although, she [was] the storm and we weren’t ready. She had six outfit changes and a multitude of different visuals on the screen, but none of it compared to the talent that she possesses.

Everything was choreographed flawlessly and the crowd ate it up. While SZA was lost at sea, we watched her glide gracefully by us, hitting every single note with perfection. If she needed to find her way back, a sea full of phones recording her would surely guide her back home. During the performance of her song Garden, SZA sat with one female guitarist and watched her solo with envy. Their energy was so intertwined, it felt like they were the only people in the whole stadium. Whether a song was upbeat or mellow, SZA kept the crowd going without skipping a beat. Everyone was singing and dancing along with her and her dance crew.

There wasn’t a single dull moment. She blew kisses to the crowd, she spoke to us, she even waved and it felt like she looked right at me. We were in relaxing waters, we went through a storm, and we made it out just to sink to the bottom of the ocean. But we did so with her and her lyrics bringing us all together. No one was alone even if they came to the United Center alone.

Her most popular song from the album, Kill Bill, was at the very end of the show. We knew it was coming when the background resembled the film Kill Bill and she was carrying a ball and chain. The crowd screeched with every last ounce of energy they could muster up. She ended the show with her song Good Days symbolizing the light at the end of our tunnel.

Although SZA was lost at sea, she made it out and did so in an alluring red gown. She even made time to come back to the stage and express her gratitude to her fans. SZA is not only an amazing performer with show-stopping vocals, she also has a big heart for her fans and their love for her.

And this is how SZA saved our souls.

Check out our gallery of the show here! and scroll down for her tour dates.

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SZA SOS Tour Dates:

Feb. 25, 2023 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena

Feb. 27, 2023 Washington, DC Capital One Arena

Feb. 28, 2023 Boston, MA TD Garden

Mar. 1, 2023 Los Angeles, CA YouTube Theater

Mar. 2, 2023 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

Mar. 4, 2023 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

Mar. 5, 2023 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

Mar. 7, 2023 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena

Mar. 9, 2023 Austin, TX Moody Center

Mar. 10, 2023 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center

Mar. 13, 2023 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena

Mar. 14, 2023 Oakland, CA Oakland Arena

Mar. 16, 2023 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena

Mar. 18, 2023 Portland, OR Moda Center

Mar. 19, 2023 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena

Mar. 22, 2023 Inglewood, CA Kia Forum

Mar. 23, 2023 Inglewood, CA Kia Forum

May. 19 – 21, 2023 Gulf Shores, AL Hangout Music Festival 2023

Links:

SZA:

Official: https://www.szasos.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sza
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sza
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sza/

United Center:

Official: https://www.unitedcenter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitedcenter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/unitedcenter
Instagram: http://instagram.com/unitedcenter

Roman Sobus:

Official: https://www.romansobus.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/romansobusphotography
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romansobus/