Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever Tour” had its Denver performance at Ball Arena on March 19, and she fulfilled fans’ high expectations. A&E Editor Katya Roudakov and Staff Writer Anna Simek, both of whom attended, discussed what made it so great and how it could represent the future of concerts.

Normal text indicates A&E Editor Katya Roudakov. Bold text indicates Staff Writer Anna Simek.

Katya Roudakov: Billie Eilish’s concert was probably the best one I’ve ever been to, to be honest. It felt normal, like it was pre-COVID. Ball Arena was packed.

Anna Simek: Yeah, even though Billie required masks and proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests, they weren’t super strict about the mandates. I also recognized a few girls from Creek there too.

KR: They definitely weren’t strict about enforcing the mask policy. The vaccine checking was run very smoothly, though, and it seemed like they got everyone. I went to the Harry Styles concert last September, where masks were required by Ball Arena and not just the artist, and everything seemed slightly less organized. At Eilish’s concert, there weren’t any unnecessary lines or crowds, though that might be attributed to Ball Arena not being in control.

AS: Another thing I found shocking was how many different age groups were there. I saw lots of teenagers, which is expected, but I also saw lots of older adults. There were also lots of guys at the concert, which was surprising to me. 

KR: I agree, it was a more diverse crowd than I was expecting. I thought it was really well put together as far as the visuals went, too. The stage she was standing on was a light display, and during “NDA” they made it look like a road. Then it started moving, and it looked like she was walking down the road, just like how she was walking down the road in her music video. It added a lot to the overall experience.

AS: Yes, the visuals of each song she performed really helped set the vibe and tone for the concert. There was lots of movement and color, and even the light show was crazier than I expected. For being such a mellow artist, her lights were intense. 

KR: I noticed the same contrast in how she performs her songs, too. A lot of them sound very quiet and mellow, but they were super energetic live. She got the whole crowd to jump, dance, and sing, and I’ve honestly found it difficult to listen to the studio recordings now, since I know how amazing her songs sound live.

AS: With how energetic the concert was, I really respected how Billie’s main priority was keeping her fans safe. She stopped the concert multiple times to have the crowd back up and adjust before continuing. Her security also did a great job, getting injured fans out of the crowd quickly and safely. Ever since Astroworld happened, going to concerts with big crowds like that can be scary, but Billie really made sure nothing like that would happen at her concert. 

KR: Not only did she make sure fans were physically safe, both in the pit and with the mask mandate, but she also ensured that everyone was comfortable mentally and emotionally. In the very beginning of the concert, she said that there was only one rule: “No judging.” Even though it seems like a small action, I think it did a lot to make everyone enjoy the concert more. She’s mentioned before that when she was a young teenager, she found her happy place to be at concerts, and it’s clear how hard she tries to make sure that everyone at her shows finds the same joy.

AS: Her concert made me feel very at peace, which doesn’t happen a lot at, especially at  concerts. She ensured that everyone that came to that concert left with the experience they hoped for. She engaged with the entire audience. Even with the fans in the back of the arena. When she switched stages and was on the revolver, she traveled across the entire arena and really connected with her fans. 

KR: It was obvious that the fans were super excited to be there, too. I barely got tickets — even with Verified Fan Presale, I could just barely get nosebleed seats for me and my friends. Part of that was because Eilish had a tour planned in 2020, which only lasted for three days before it was canceled for COVID. The people who had tickets for that tour got priority in purchasing tickets for this one, and there were a ton of other people who wanted to buy tickets, so they went super fast. Because of that, there were barely any empty seats.

AS: This concert was so much fun to be a part of. Lots of people texted me during and after the concert talking about how lucky I was to get to be there and that they tried to find tickets and couldn’t. This was my first Eilish concert, and I can’t wait till she comes back to Denver again. I will for sure be going, because this concert was truly one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. 

KR: I completely agree. There are lots of concerts coming up soon, like Olivia Rodrigo’s, and I hope they’re able to meet this standard of energy and attendance. If they can, then Eilish’s concert could mark the return of normal concerts to Denver.