Melanie Martinez Takes Toronto Through PORTALS
After four years, Melanie Martinez has returned to Toronto, Canada on July 14 for her highly anticipated PORTALS tour. Fans were buzzing everywhere with excitement as soon as they stepped into Meridian Hall. In coordination with Melanie’s PORTALS album concept, most were dressed in the artist’s merch or wore costume pieces, such as elf ears or mushroom hats, ready for a magical experience.
Photo Cr: Saba Choudhary
The opening act for the night was Tanukichan, whose music is best described as dreamy shoegaze thanks to Hannah van Loon’s vocals and bass. Alongside guitarist James Mattson and Joe Lyle on drums, the trio kicked off the night with “The Blue Sky,” which had the crowd cheering from the very first riff. They went on to perform a cover of “Thank You” by Dido, setting a mellow vibe and forming a crowd of phone flashlights. Tanukichan ended their set with the alluring, bass heavy song “Hunned Bandz.”
Melanie’s performance began promptly at 8:30 PM where she graced the stage sporting a prosthetic mask of the otherworldly creature present on the PORTALS album cover. The artist opened with her title track “DEATH.” Fans sang along, screaming from beginning to end, never allowing a second of silence — even between songs.
Backup dancers were present for the entirety of the show, with choreographed dances and theatrics where Melanie interacted with them based on the theme of each song’s lyrics and storylines. The 90 minute show was also accompanied by a live band consisting of a double bass and zither aside from the usual guitar and drum sounds. Adding to the aesthetic of the stage production were multiple large vine garlands hanging from the ceiling and inflatable mushrooms covering every corner of the stage.
Both the visuals and the dancers made Melanie Martinez’s concert feel like an immersive art experience. Melanie swayed and danced throughout the night, captivating the audience with their ethereal voice in songs like “THE CONTORTIONIST” and “EVIL.”
By the end of “WOMB,” pink confetti shot up from the stage as Melanie walked off, creating an unforgettable night for fans. The crowd cheered for them to return for an encore. A few minutes later Melanie was back to perform the last three tracks from PORTALS: “POWDER,” “PLUTO,” and “THE MILK OF THE SIREN.”
Photo Cr: Saba Choudhary
Throughout the performance, Melanie consistently interacted with the crowd by asking how they’re doing or dedicating specific songs to those who could relate to the lyrics. They ended the night expressing multiple times how thankful she was for the fans' support.
Toronto was the second to last stop concluding the PORTALS tour, with the following night in Montreal.