Taylor Swift has no fewer than four new albums — Lover, Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights — to cover in the Eras Tour, which was both an opportunity and a major challenge. It wasn’t hard to imagine that she’d end up sidelining the quieter material of Folklore and Evermore in favor of her stadium-shaking pop hits, but instead, she pretty much plays everything, every night.
In the new episode of Rolling Stone Music Now, Waiss Aramesh (who covered opening night in Glendale, Arizona for Rolling Stone), joins Brittany Spanos and host Brian Hiatt for a look at how Swift pulls the whole thing off. (To hear the full discussion, find it here at the podcast provider of your choice, go directly to Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or just press play above.)
In the episode, we dive deep on the setlist, which has so far boasted 44 songs a night, with no fewer than 12 tracks from Folklore and Evermore, and other surprises, beginning with Swift’s choice of opening song: the underrated Lover track “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince.” We also go deep on the tour’s song choices, the staging, and much more, including predictions of future surprises and guest stars.
Download and subscribe to our weekly podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now, hosted by Brian Hiatt, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts). Check out six years’ worth of episodes in the archive, including in-depth, career-spanning interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Halsey, Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Rick Ross, Alicia Keys, the National, Ice Cube, Taylor Hawkins, Willow, Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Dua Lipa, Questlove, Killer Mike, Julian Casablancas, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Marr, Scott Weiland, Liam Gallagher, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Donald Fagen, Charlie Puth, Phil Collins, Justin Townes Earle, Stephen Malkmus, Sebastian Bach, Tom Petty, Eddie Van Halen, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, the Zombies, Gary Clark Jr., and many others. Plus, there are dozens of episodes featuring genre-spanning discussions, debates, and explainers with Rolling Stone’s critics and reporters.
From Rolling Stone US
