Arizona Financial Theatre (Phoenix, AZ)
10/15/23
R&B singer and rapper Janelle Monáe delivered a bombastic performance in Phoenix, Arizona at the Arizona Financial Theatre this October in support of their newly released album, The Age of Pleasure. The album seems to come on the heels of a massive emotional revolution for Monáe themself, as they state outright in the album’s opening track, “Float,” “I used to walk into the room, head down. I don’t walk, now I float!” The Age of Pleasure is a free-floating and vibrant celebration of self-care, physical comfort, newfound confidence, and – especially – sexual pleasure.
The stage performance certainly reflected said epiphany. From the first second they appeared onstage, decked in a vibrant robe of flowers, every single move they made spoke to their incredible self-possession and newfound freedom. Monae and their squad of background dancers seemed to be making a statement with every movement, creating a space, saying to the audience, “It’s okay. There’s no worth in staying wound up tight. Relax, enjoy yourself, and rebel.”
Janelle Monáe’s tour wrapped up on October 18th, 2023 in Inglewood at the YouTube theater, but they show no signs of slowing down. Be on the lookout for a fresh tour sometime in 2024, and make sure to snap up your tickets right away.
