SZA performs during the opening of her Friday evening headlining set on the T-Mobile main stage for the second day of Lollapalooza on Aug. 2, 2024. Photo courtesy of Catherine Martul
Memorably dreamy ethereal mesmerizing, high energy, and entertaining. That is how multi-GRAMMYs and multi-platinum singer and songwriter, SZA’s headlining set on Friday evening on the T-Mobile main stage could best be described. For day two of Lollapalooza’s 2024 and 20th anniversary Chicago edition of the world-renowned music festival here in Grant Park. That ironically came almost a year to the day of her former TDE labelmate, Kendrick Lamar, headlining that same stage at Lollapalooza last year.
SZA’s very uniquely dreamy earthy and ethereal fantasy stage setup that had an icicle-flanked cave and giant tree trunk with vines hanging from the side and a green-lit TV background was the perfect compliment to her pink polka dot top and short shorts matching outfit with thigh-high boots. That was one of several outfit changes that also included SZA in a dreamy pink outfit she wore. The first outfit what we seen the very beautifully talented multi-platinum award-winning and songwriter sitting on top of an anti to start her Friday headlining set as she passionately sang Seek & Destroy to the very packed crowd before she went through several of her classics records such as Love Galore, Go Gina, Broken Clocks, Prom, Garden (Say It Like Dat) and Drew Barrymore. About a quarter to midway through her set also performing her new song, Cry Baby. That she said wasn’t out yet, but would likely be out sometime soon. Which if you are a true fan of SZA you wouldn’t hold her to it actually being out soon.
SZA was very engaging with the crowd and her fans throughout her set too. Asking where her day one fans were at prior to going into record. As she both sang and talked to the audience in different areas of the colorfully themed nature of the stage. Whether it be on stage or on actual giant tree trunk staircases that evolved throughout her set. As SZA went through such fan favorites as F2F, Forgiveless, Low, Ghost in the Machine, Blind and Shirt. The entire section of audience by the T-Mobile stage flooded with people singing, dancing and recording on their phones the experience with SZA.
A cover of Doja Cat’s GRAMMY Award-winning Kiss Me More she’s featured on that also contained elements of the late great Prince’s forever classic and timeless single, Kiss. Having SZA singing so smoothly and passionately with her dreamy vocals, as the crowd sang and danced along. That right into fan favorites I Hate U and Snooze and swords coming out to kill a dummy right into what is still her most popular songs to date, Kill Bill. Had festivalgoers so emphatically singing along to the very relatable post breakup lyrics right before everyone dance and sang along to Low. That was by far one of the highlights of SZA’s Friday headlining set.
A female guitarist then came out absolutely shredding a stellar solo guitar performance. As SZA went downstairs to change. As the stage also switched from a more robot background to the very nature tree world type backdrop. SZA reappearing in a sensually dreamy pajama like outfit. As she went into Supermodel and the Travis Scott featured, Open Arms. Right before explaining how an ex-fiancé she was with over a decade was the inspiration for her very famous heartbreak ballad, Nobody Gets Me. That the crowd so passionately sang along to.
SZA would then ask for her glasses and receiving them as she nonchalantly sat atop the stairs of the giant tree trunk with vines staircases exclaiming it was, “Time for me to be a human.” As she introduced her famous record, Normal Girl. The packed crowd enthusiastically screaming and already singing along just alone at the intro. Right before even performing the song. SZA’s heartbreaking, yet bittersweet performance even having fans who you can seen flashed on the big board, shedding tears while having their eyes closed and emotionally singing along.
As we got to the very latter near end of her performance SZA went into Saturn right before bringing the energy to the highest it was for her performance. With herself booty shaking up and down the stairs. A bunch of background dancers coming out on stage also shaking their booty’s as everyone in the crowd very energetically sang, screamed and danced along to SZA’s cover of Drake’s, Rich Baby Daddy she’s featured on with Sexyy Red as well. The latter performing earlier in the day and a missed opportunity for her to join SZA on stage to perform the very popular record. Another missed opportunity being that SZA didn’t perform her Chance the Rapper featured, Child’s Play and have him come out as a special surprise guest performer in his hometown. Though Chance actually did during Reneé Rap’s performance on that same T-Mobile stage about an hour earlier.
SZA would then take the energy back down, as she ended her set with fans in the crowd you can see swaying and singing so smoothly along in friendship and love to her standout single, Good Days. A, “The End” sign lighting up the screen on stage to make it appear it was the end of her Friday headlining set.
Just as people in the crowd were already starting to leave. SZA had other plans and came back out asking, “Wait, Chicago, do you wanna hear ’20 Something?” People who were leaving coming back around as the crowd that was still pretty packed after some had already left screamed an emphatic, “Yes!” The crowd then singing along as SZA noted Chicago’s strict curfew rules about midway through the performance and saying how they only had three more minutes left. Towards the end of the performance her even pointing at what was still left of the crowd, blessing and highlighting each section of the audience. While her and the crowd sang the lyrics, “God bless these 20 somethings.”
SZA finally thanking Chicago and Lollapalooza as her mic was cut off in the middle of her outro, 16 minutes past 10 p.m. The crowds cheering her exist as her very memorably dreamy ethereal mesmerizing, at times high energy and very entertaining headlining set perfectly closed day two of Lollapalooza 2024.