Not many 16 year olds are touring the world, with thousands of die hard fans screaming every word to their songs on a daily basis, but not many 16 year olds are Billie Eilish. The young pop prodigy is currently touring North America on her sold out “1 BY 1” tour, which has fans and critics alike taking notice of the young songstress’ raw talent and intense stage presence. Despite only having released a handful of singles, as well as her debut EP, entitled dont smile at me, Eilish has cultivated legions of fans across the world, that are hysterical at the thought of seeing her in the flesh. Portland’s Roseland Theater was lucky enough to be graced by Eilish’s rambunctious and emotional show last Tuesday night, which proved why Eilish is thought by many to be one of pop’s most exciting up-and-comers.

What immediately stands out about a Billie Eilish show is how quickly and seamlessly she transitions from hard and aggressive, to soft and vulnerable. Tracks like “bellyache”, “you should see me in a crown”, and show closer “COPYCAT” had the audience going absolutely ballistic, while tracks like “ocean eyes”, “idontwannabeyouanymore”, and “when the party’s over” had them reaching for their tissues. The connection Eilish has with her fans is deep and palpable, making for a show that the audience was an integral part of. Often times the crowd could be heard singing louder than Eilish herself, and other times the crowd would be dead silent, causing each word she spoke to be even more impactful. With a show this dynamic, it’s all the more remarkable that this is only the beginning for Eilish. We’re sure she has a promising career ahead of her, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

CHILDISH MAJOR & FINNEAS (supporting acts)

By: Blake Charles | Exclusively for @Music, Why Not!

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