Written and Photos by Bang Ho
Carly Rae Jepsen is a renowned pop hit maker, but what is notable is how consistent she is writing pop masterpieces. Her sound check to no more than 100 people was beyond wondrous, sounding like an intimate show for close friends in the huge ACL Live Moody Theater. When she played Feels Right, she asked those in attendance of the soundcheck to do Asa’s part and it was like listening to the recording but turned up a few notches in intensity. After the show preview, there was no question the show was going to be spectacular. She started the show with the sophomore hit from her new album Dedicated “No Drug Like Me” and went into EMOTION for the second track. As a late comer on the Carly fan camp and someone who adores Dedicated, it was almost compelling to believe in a higher power that actually answered prayers –almost half the set list comprised of hits from Emotion and Emotion Side B. Whether she was playing a song from early in her career to the latest single or a slow jam/dance anthem, the crowd was anything but lethargic. The biggest highlight (besides getting a hug and photo with Carly, and getting to experience the whole show) was perhaps the last song of the three song encore, “Cut to the Feeling”, a song that was on the Ballerina/Leap soundtrack that has an insane amount of energy matched with a performance that deserved adulation of the highest. Between the non stop bopping and dancing, I can’t remember the last time I felt so much Emotion at a show.
