Rina Sawayama Electrifies NYC on Final Date of ‘Dynasty’ Tour: Concert Review

variety.com:

William Earl One of the few bright spots of the early days of the pandemic was genre chameleon Rina Sawayama dropping her debut album “Sawayama.” As weeks became months while trapped inside, the genre-hopping LP gave listeners an audio passport, effortlessly jumping from Gaga-style pop to the late ’90s guitar chug of Korn on singles like “STFU!” and “XS.” While the rest of the album dips into more traditional pop music exercises, those two songs almost dare listeners: Can you keep up with this winning mashup of turn-of-the-century indulgence?Cut to 2022 and her “Dynasty” tour, which wrapped up with a sold-out Friday show at New York’s Terminal 5 and feels like a victory lap from an artist whose fame hit while no one left the house.

Her profile has grown since the first record — collaborating with the likes of Lady Gaga and Charli XCX, booking a role in the new “John Wick” movie, walking in runway shows and even recording a cover of “Enter Sandman” for a Metallica tribute album — but her live set was tightly constructed to show her absolute control and ascension into pop stardom.

Flanked by two dancers, a guitar player and drummer, Rina controlled the room with the confidence of a pro running a greatest hits setlist, not a breakout artist touring her first full-length.

Opener “Dynasty” unleashed screaming and chanting from the audience so deafening that Sawayama paused several times between songs, seemingly overwhelmed by her faithful fans and unable to find a lull to begin the next song. “STFU!” came next and found the crowd gleefully screaming to “Shut the fuck up!” on the infectious kiss-off chorus.