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Creative Loafing Tampa

February 28, 2013 Music » Concert Review

Pink amazes with high-flying athleticism and top-notch vocals at Tampa Bay Times Forum

A look back at the Wed., Feb. 27 show, with pics & setlist

by Kelsey Sunderland and Tracy May

click to flip through (12)

Tracy May
Pink

Tools

For those of us who thought Pink couldn’t possibly surpass the visual extravaganza of her 2009 Funhouse Tour, the 33-year-old Philly native pop star proved she’s still plenty capable of producing a uniquely entertaining arena pop show and drawing a sell-out crowd ranging in age from 62-year-old grandma Janice Bent to a girl who couldn’t have been much more than 10, holding up a decorative pink sign that read “My 1st Concert.” On her current Truth About Love Tour – which hit Tampa Bay Times Forum last Wed., Feb. 27 – she bounced, twirled, hung upside down over the stage, and managed to deliver spot-on vocals amid all her ambitious high-flying antics. [Text by Kelsey, photos by Tracy.]

Swedish alt rock/garage quintet The Hives warmed up the stage, delivering a high energy 40-minute set clad in classy tuxedos. Though few in attendance seem to know who they were, they received a surprisingly warm welcome from the crowd [MORE].

Bursting onto the stage with “Raise Your Glass,” new mom Pink was not at all self-conscious about showing off her post-baby bod, and her sculpted washboard abs were just as toned as those of the parade of shirtless male dancers who joined her in feats of demanding choreography and Cirque Du Soilel-style acrobatics.

During a music video montage of clips spanning her 13-year career, she performed a mash-up of her first three charting singles, “Most Girls,” “There You Go” and “You Make Me Sick,” then dialed down the theatrics and kicked up her vocals for some slower songs. A moment of quiet striking awe fell over the crowd when she launched into a sultry cover of Chris Issac’s “Wicked Game,” the dream-like ambiance of the softening stage lights matching her low-toned raspy vocals. Then she launched into a video-screen duet with fun. frontman Nate Ruess for “Just Give Me A Reason,” belted the heart-wrenching “Family Portrait,” and followed that with an acoustic version of “Who Knew.” As the show progressed, she seemed to warm to the crowd and took a familiar, chatty tone with us, dropping a few f-bombs and discussing anything from her daughter’s bedtime to a stint working in a fast-food joint. Towards the end of the show, Pink climbed a spinning metal globe to deliver “Sober,” and it almost appeared as if she performed wires-free, floating and executing moves and somehow maintaining her vocal power all throughout.

I overheard some genuine surprise in the buzz after the show, one voice rising in an astounded, “I actually enjoyed it.” No surprise on this end — Pink delivered one hell of a fantastic performance, something we should come to expect from an artist of her caliber.

Set List
Raise Your Glass
Walk of Shame
Just Like a Pill
U + Ur Hand
Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)
Try
Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover)
Just Give Me a Reason
Are We All We Are
How Come You're Not Here  
Sober  
Family Portrait  
Who Knew  
F**kin' Perfect  
Most Girls / There You Go / You Make Me Sick  
Slut Like You  
Blow Me (One Last Kiss)  
So What  
Glitter in the Air