Taylor Swift, the iconic pop sensation, graced Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Friday, July 28, 2023, for the first Bay Area concert of her highly anticipated Eras Tour. Known for her record-breaking achievements, Taylor Swift’s Santa Clara Night electrifying performance managed to make headlines yet again by breaking curfew.
Levi’s Stadium, nestled within a residential neighborhood in Santa Clara and home to the San Francisco 49ers, has long struggled with noise issues since its opening in 2016. The strict city ordinance demanded that the stadium go dark at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. However, in 2021, the Santa Clara City Council made a partial concession, allowing up to five non-NFL events per year to extend until 11 p.m.
Despite these regulations, Taylor Swift’s unstoppable energy and passion for her craft led her to push past the 11 p.m. cutoff time. The Eras Tour concerts are renowned for their extended duration, with each show lasting at least three hours and featuring more than 40 songs, and Taylor Swift’s Santa Clara performance was no exception.
Drawing inspiration from previous artists like the Rolling Stones, U2, Coldplay, and Beyoncé, who had also broken the curfew in the past, Swift disregarded the ticking clock while introducing the first surprise song of the evening, “Right Where You Left Me,” accompanied by long-time collaborator Aaron Dessner. The crowd was thrilled as she continued her set with another surprise number, “Castles Crumbling,” a previously unreleased track from her re-recorded 2010 album, “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),” which she performed live for the first time that night.
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The delays in starting the set were not entirely Swift’s fault. The gates opened at 4:30 p.m., and approximately 58,000 enthusiastic attendees eagerly queued up, leading to extended wait times. Moreover, the numerous costume changes and elaborate stage setups characteristic of the Eras Tour added to the show’s spectacle, making it challenging to adhere to the schedule.
Nonetheless, the love and excitement from the crowd were palpable. Taylor Swift, who had not performed in the Bay Area for five years, expressed her joy at being back with her devoted fans. Tickets for the Eras Tour concert were in such high demand that they were being resold for as much as $45,000 each on the day of the event, showcasing the immense popularity and support Swift enjoys.
Although the potential repercussions loomed, including a potential fine for violating the curfew, Swift remained unbothered. In 2017, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor had fined the 49ers $1,000 for U2’s noise violation, but Taylor Swift’s devoted fanbase and financial success made any penalty seem inconsequential.
Taylor Swift took to the stage at 8:10 p.m. and continued to captivate the audience until approximately 11:37 p.m. The concert was filled with unforgettable moments, such as the overwhelming standing ovation she received after performing “Champagne Problems” from “Evermore,” which nearly brought her to tears. The crowd’s cheers were so thunderous that Swift took out her in-ear monitors to fully embrace the moment, savoring the adoration of her fans.
During “Long Live,” a song she recently added to the “Speak Now” segment of her Eras Tour setlist after re-releasing the album, fireworks from the neighboring amusement park Great America erupted, adding to the magical atmosphere of the night. As the fireworks ended during “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” Swift playfully remarked on the display, adding to the intimate connection she shared with the audience.
While Santa Clara experienced an unforgettable night with Taylor Swift, it may have gotten off lightly compared to Seattle, where the pop sensation’s fans caused seismic activity measuring a magnitude 2.3 earthquake during her recent Eras Tour concerts.
Taylor Swift’s Santa Clara concert was undoubtedly an extraordinary and historic event. With another sold-out performance scheduled at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, July 29, Swift’s magical presence promises to linger in the hearts of her fans long after the final encore. The pop superstar once again demonstrated her ability to shatter records, break curfews, and, most importantly, touch the souls of her devoted followers.
