Tove Lo Shines Bright At Salt Shed [REVIEW]

Review and photos by Scott Teresi

On Wednesday night, with blistering summer heat barely in the rear-view mirror, a cool early September evening was a joyous change of pace for Chicago and its newest premier venue, The Salt Shed, as it welcomed TOVE LO into its confines for the first time and her return to the city after last year’s celebrated appearance at Lollapalooza in late July of 2022 in Grant Park.

For much of the evening, the inside of the Shed was transformed into a pulsating fulcrum of energy as the enigmatic Swedish artist took the stage, with support from Phoenix-based singer-songwriter UPSAHL. With Tove Lo’s distinctive blend of pop and alternative sounds, she delivered a concert experience that will be etched in the memories of the eccentric personalities who showed up in an array of colorful outfits to sell out the Salt Shed for this spectacular performance. From the moment she stepped into the spotlight until the final encore, frontwoman Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson’s performance was an electrifying journey that showcased her immense vocal abilities and mastery of stage presence.

The evening began with a set from Upsahl, who showcased a strong collection of a dozen alt-pop/rock songs including the single “Drugs” from the Hindsight 20/20 EP and “Lunatic” from the latest LP Lady Jesus, getting the audience in the mood for the evening to come. As the lights dimmed a second time, the eager crowd erupting wildly into cheers, Tove Lo emerged and took the stage framed within a set of clouds that enveloped her as she ran from both sides of the Shed’s massive stage but also her band, supporting her from behind and against a dazzling kaleidoscope of shifting and shimmering lights.

Opening with the infectious beat of “Pineapple Slice,” she immediately commanded the attention of every set of eyes and ears in the venue. Her voice, a delicate balance of vulnerability and strength, soared through the room and up to the rafters and ceiling that for generations sheltered mountains of salt, captivating the audience with every note and beat.

With tracks representative of albums across her entire discography, a majority of songs performed were from her latest full-length, Dirt Femme, released in 2022. Along with singles such as “How Long,” “2 Die 4” and “Grapefruit,” album cuts were also present in the set such as “Attention Whore” along with fan favorites like “Talking Body,” “Habits (Stay High)” and “Cool Girl.” Tove Lo wove this collection of tunes together into a seamless cohesive whole, taking the audience on the journey throughout the night with energetic electro-pop bops peppered with some introspective ballads that conveyed honest vulnerability and empowerment.

With the encore’s conclusion after “No One Dies From Love,” it was clear from the reactions of the patrons coming out of the cozy brick building that Tove Lo’s debut at The Salt Shed (which had originally been scheduled to open the inside portion of the vast venue complex back in February but was rescheduled to this date instead) was well worth the wait for the excited and loyal fan-base that buzzed about while departing for the evening.

Tour Dates:

Fri, SEP 8 Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak, MI
Sun, SEP 10 The Rooftop at Pier 17 New York, NY
Tue, SEP 12 Roadrunner Boston, MA
Thu, SEP 14 The Anthem Washington, DC
Fri, SEP 15 The Atlantis Washington, DC
Sun, SEP 17 Music Midtown 2023 Atlanta, GA
Sat, OCT 7 Zilker Metropolitan Park Austin, TX
Mon, OCT 9 The Bellwether Los Angeles, CA
Tue, OCT 10 Observatory Santa Ana, CA
Sat, OCT 14 Zilker Metropolitan Park Austin, TX