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Sabrina Carpenter concert review Short n' Sweet Tour

Posted on by Kennedy
Sabrina Carpenter concert review Short n' Sweet Tour

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BALTIMORE — If there is ever another live-action “Cinderella” movie, the star has already been born.

Sabrina Carpenter, the reigning princess of pop after a decade of rising to the crown, is like Disney royalty come to life.

With her luxurious blonde locks, flirtatious demeanor and mellifluous voice, 25-year-old Carpenter fills any pop star void with sophisticated songs laced with a hint of spice.

On Saturday, Carpenter thrilled a sold-out crowd at CFG Bank Arena for the eighth date of her Short n' Sweet Tour, her first arena run that will keep her on the road through November.

The production is framed as a '70s variety show, with on-screen references such as “filmed in front of a live studio audience” and the statement “Parental discretion is advised” before the flirtatious “Bed Chem.” The production is a playful combination of Barbie Dreamhouse and an episode of Three's Company.

Her “penthouse,” as she called it, features white-painted stairs, an alcove with sheer curtains for her four-piece band and a bathroom with a heart-shaped mirror into which she sang “Sharpest Tool.”

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Sabrina Carpenter hosts a pajama party on stage

Carpenter opened the 90-minute glossa-thon with a trio of songs from her successful sixth album “Short n' Sweet,” starting with current hit “Taste.” She put her acting skills to good use as she ran out wide-eyed and (apparently) wearing only a beach towel, only to quickly unzip it to reveal her silver leotard and garters.

The arena was filled with more pink than a cotton candy factory — teenagers in sparkly dresses hoisted into the air by dads and 20-somethings in short, ruffled skirts — as the crowd embraced the girly aesthetic presented by Carpenter.

“Good morning, Baltimore,” she said, a sly reference to “Hairspray” and one of several occasions throughout the show that Carpenter addressed her fans while occasionally hosting an onstage pajama party.

Carpenter's estrogen dancer group hung on a staircase while singing “Lie to Girls.” The performance was full of pensive looks and fluttering vocals, as the star herself sashayed down the runway for an appealingly jazzy “Feather.”

Sabrina Carpenter channels Madonna

“This is the funniest thing in the world to me,” Carpenter told the crowd, who praised her for her increased screaming.

It wasn't clear whether she was referring to the performance in general or the climax that followed her comments.

Carpenter set up a casual hang at the heart-shaped end of the runway, complete with pillows for members of her band and a few dancers to relax on.

“Chance,” a bubblegum jingle in the making, sparkled with tingly joy. But she followed up with the moment fans have come to expect at her shows – the much-lauded cover song.

A game of spin the bottle decided the choice – Madonna’s “Material Girl”. The song not only fits Carpenter's voice well, but also her persona. “Sing it if you know it!” She implored the audience, who knew her well despite her youth (in a cute karaoke-style way, the lyrics appeared on the screen).

More: Billie Eilish tells fans at US tour start: “I will always fight for you.”

Sabrina Carpenter gets emotional in concert

The final third of the show highlights Carpenter's current hit list as well as Short n' Sweet's album title “Juno.” It reads, “Have you ever tried this?” The lyric has pushed Carpenter to new positions at every show, and on this night it was a single-legged bent knee that sent fans into a frenzy.

Before closing with the inevitable “Espresso,” a confetti-splattering shot of pure pop, Carpenter chatted with her followers one more time. While commenting on their outfits, she was suddenly overcome with emotion and put a hand to her mouth as she choked back tears of appreciation.

This year has come a long way from her starring role on Disney Channel's “Girl Meets World” (2014-2017), signifying Carpenter's evolution from a mediocre pop singer (2022's “Emails I Can't Send”) and tour opener for Taylor Swift to the current chart-dominating license fee.

You could almost say it's a Cinderella story.

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