Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" Toronto - A Musical Scrapbook

Let's all take a moment to experience vicariously the gift of Taylor Swift's illustrious career.

Here’s to Pre-Flight & Swifties

It’s Friday, November 15th, and I’m at Logan airport, waiting to board the plane for the ERAS Tour event, which I got tickets to in August 2023 directly from Ticketmaster, which is practically unheard of. Many girls of the tweens and teen variety are present waiting in line with us, decked out in their Eras hoodies and clearly in their element, indicating this may be their second time at her Eras tour and that they are living history. Mothers are nervously checking their phones, perhaps clinging to the reality that this is really happening (finally!), and they haven’t missed anything (yup, been there). Fathers, the few that have been unceremoniously drafted, and brothers look bored, but graciously they come and support.

This poster is now hung in my daughter’s room next to her Kacey Musgraves one.

This is a scene that replays itself throughout the weekend in various locales throughout Toronto. At the airport hotel, on Saturday morning, I run into an NJ mom adorning Swiftie sweats, glitter on her face, and the afterglow (not to be mistaken for the Taylor Swift Lover’s era song) from the previous night’s concert. She still has the number “13” either hand-painted or temporarily tattooed on her hand and we’re instantly BFFs. She tells me everything I need to know about the practical logistics of the concert (“Merch lines are long. Get there early.”) and how much she enjoyed it. When I asked her who had gone, she replied. “Me and my daughter. My husband didn’t come. He drove around Toronto.” That checks out.

And that’s “HOW YOU GET [THIS] GIRL” - I couldn’t resist the 1989 song reference and had to represent that era . Seriously, who doesn’t want grilled cheese?

Regardless of where we went, the instant connective tissue was always Swift. I could start conversations with any unsuspecting Swift gear wearing woman and it was like we were best friends. That’s a bit of the magic of the experience overall, as well as going to a “destination concert” experience. You can secretly be a nerd who doesn’t really engage in conversations with strangers freely, but in Eras land - it’s like an alternate universe where everyone sees your 🫶🏻 or your Swift art on display:

L: Swift was born on December 13, 1989, and has said that 13 is her lucky number. During her "Fearless" era, she would write a blue "13" on her hand before concerts for good luck. R: My hand and "Lover" painted nails

On to the concert and highlights. The Eras Tour concert is LONG. It starts promptly at 6:45 (hell, yeah) and ends after 11. There is one 15-minute intermission between the opening act and TS. Otherwise, it’s “GO TIME” the entire time. My phone was at 30% from about 8:45 on, even though I charged it before I left. As such, most of my videos are from opener Gracie Abrams (JJ’s daughter and a talented, rising artist) and Lover. I recorded a little from “The Tortured Poet’s Department” or “TTPD” per fan shorthand, which was a coup because that newer edition to her tour is fantastic and worth the sacrifice of some of the Folklore favorites like “Tolerate it” and “Last Great American Dynasty” nicely truncated as “Folkmore” - an amalgamation of her sister albums, Folklore and Evermore, which were produced during the pandemic.

Whether you love Swift’s music or she’s not your thang, what can’t be denied is her ability to transform and evolve her music. Longevity - She started off as a teenager singing pop-country ballads and love songs about heartbreak. While she’s still remaining true to her core themes of love and relationships because, as humans, these are the things that are central to our being, she also explores the female experience and what it’s like to be a woman out in the world. She cultivates kindness and loyalty amongst her legions of fans because she brings it and leads with love.

Are You Ready for It? - The Video Clips, I Mean

Before the Show Started…

Gracie Abrams: That’s So True 🎵🎶

Taylor Swift: Lover 🎵🎶

Taylor Swift: Tortured Poet’s Department 🎵🎶

Taylor Swift & Gracie Abrams & Fans: Bonus Songs - Acoustic Mash-Up “The Secret of Us” + “Are We Out of The Woods?” 🎵🎶

Till Next Concert…May It Be Soon

Creative ads like this were everywhere. This one is for Hotels.com, which used Swift’s albums (this one shows Midnights) in its campaign. I loved it.

In Closing

My favorite era in the concert was probably Fearless (one of her early ones), which surprised me. Standing in the crowd with my son and daughter, both of whom knew that era so well, my body lost itself to the music and cheer. Music is healing. I can count on one hand the number of times in my life I’ve experienced a complete detachment of mind and body, basking in awe and being fully present in the moment. This was one.

TTPD, her latest era, was incredible. I know many of the songs on the album, but the ones she chose to sing and the macabre feel to them with the production elements were spot on. My favorite was “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart,” which opens up like an old-time circus performer act. As we all know, regardless of what’s going on in her personal life, Swift performs rain or shine, consecutive nights, 3+ hours in a row for what will be 152 shows across 54 cities in the timespan from March 2023 through December 2024. She’s a pro.

Lastly, I love the solidarity and encouragement Taylor shows to up-and-coming or newly arrived artists. The bonus song with Gracie and their mutual admiration and support was on full display.

Let’s Discuss:

• Swiftie? Yes or no?

• Did you go to the Eras Tour or have you ever been to a TS concert?

• What’s your most recent concert experience (live or watched)?

• If anyone is wondering if “All Too Well” is really 10 mins long and she sings the entire song, she does. I recorded it. Ping me and I can share it.

• Anyone else a fan of mash-ups? I kinda love them. It’s a great way to get all the songs in, especially for prolific artists.