My Experience at The Circus Maximus Tour
Last week, I was beyond excited to attend Travis Scott’s Atlanta show of the Circus Maximus Tour at State Farm Arena. Scott’s Atlanta residency lasted two days–December 1st and 2nd–and I attended his performance on December 1st. Of course, I was excited for the show because I have utmost respect for Travis Scott’s artistry, but the show also got me thinking about what separates his approach to live performance from other artists.
Scott understands that what attracts his fanbase is energy–lots of it. Throughout the show, he orchestrates the energy in the dynamic nature of the setlist. He essentially constructs of roller coaster of energy, following a string of up-tempo tracks with slower interludes and older songs of his that less of the crowd knew–helping him tame the mosh pits energy of the arena. He consistently builds energy throughout the show while giving the audience clear moments to catch a breath–his shorter recesses with “sdp interlude,” “Maria I’m Drunk,” and “90210.” The sonic decisions throughout the show are undeniably very important to the energy he dictates, but we must not overlook the eccentric stage set. Pyrotechnics, gorilla costumes, and floating parasails for fans to ride are a few of the notable aspects of the set’s design.
The extraterrestrial stage itself crawled across the entire arena floor and was designed to ensure safety of the general admission crowd, as there were designated spaces across the floor for fans to safely exit the mosh pit should they need to. Having an expansive stage set typically means the artist forfeits considerable ticket sales because there is less room on the floor. This principle enabled Ed Sheeran to break concert attendance records with his Mathematics Tour at several venues including Metlife Stadium and Lumen Field, even surpassing that of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Travis Scott performances are historically energetic–movement of his fans mirrored that of a 1.3 magnitude earthquake in Rome.
The Circus Maximus Tour is–in my eyes–one of the most captivating recent tours and is a testament to Scott’s influence throughout hip-hop and popular culture. The show was nothing short of inspiring, and Travis Scott, Offset, Teezo Touchdown, and every other performer of the night placed the show among my most memorable interactions with music.
