Portals Tour runs through mid-summer
Multi-Platinum alt pop phenomenon Melanie Martinez brought her Portals Tour to Los Angeles’ YouTube Theater on Friday (June 9th) with an over the top production like no other. The former Voice contestant performed her new 16 song digital deluxe album, Portals, in its entirety as an otherworldly new creature that is a rebirth of her alter ego Cry Baby.
The 75 minute set consisted of Martinez parading around the stage with four dancers as her four-piece band played. Her alto voice soared through the theater with deafening screams from Cry Babies who were singing along word for word, despite the album’s release earlier this spring.
The presentation included elaborate set pieces such as inflatable mushrooms and an all encompassing spider web, paired with a large screen that featured cartoonish characters like leeches, fire-breathing dragons, fairies and others. Martinez wrote the album and developed the stage show after putting her K-12 era to rest in 2021.
Martinez performed the album in sequence, opening with a haunting intro before launching into the album’s lead single “Death” and its follow up “Void.” Interludes played as Martinez would walk off stage to refresh her image with each new song. Following the main set’s closer, “Womb,” fans began chanting “Melanie! Melanie!” as she returned to the stage in dim light and fog to perform the three songs that make up the deluxe version of Portals.
Fans who know Martinez are aware that her tours consist of full album performances only. Her K-12 Tour also featured 13 songs during the main set with three encore tracks as well.
I know some fans have shared their disinterest in seeing the tour because of the elaborate costume Martinez wears that hides her body, including her face. However, don’t let that deter from seeing the visionary work her magic.
Portals was released March 31st via Atlantic Records and marks Martinez’s third consecutive Billboard 200 Top 10 album debut, following Cry Baby at No. 6 and K-12 at No. 3. Upon its release, Portals boasted further debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Current Alternative Albums, Current Pop Albums, Top Album Sales, Current Album Sales, Internet Albums, Digital Albums, and Top Alternative/Rock Albums charts, along with a No. 2 debut on the Top Vinyl Albums chart. International first week highlights include Martinez’s first No. 1 album debut in Australia, No. 1 in New Zealand, No. 2 in the UK, No. 3 in Canada, No. 3 in Ireland, and top 10 chart placements in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain.
The Los Angeles stop was the seventh stop of the 29 city trek. Produced by Live Nation, the highly anticipated Portals Tour runs July 15th with stops in San Diego, Atlanta, New York City, St. Louis, Chicago and others. If you’re a fan of the album, you’d enjoy seeing it come to life in person.
