Photos

PHOTOS: Aurora – San Francisco, CA – 5/17/2022

Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora brought her The Gods We Can Touch tour to The Warfield in San Francisco last month.

Aurora Aksnes is known for her highly stylized visuals, and this tour was no exception. A large circular screen and layered setpieces provided a mountainscape backdrop for the performance. Aksnes emerged onstage silhouetted against the blood-red screen, setting the dramatic tone of the performance. Deep blue and red lighting and a healthy dose of neon strobes complemented the fierce nature of songs like “Heathens” and “Warrior.”

While the vigor of lyrics like “we cry for those who burn beneath the flame/we stand beside the good and brave/the broken and enslaved” suggest a certain seriousness from their writer, Aksnes maintained a hypnotizing hold over the crowd with her whimsy and joy of performing.

Between performances, she spoke at length about her songs, the admiration for the audience, and the connection she felt through music. One of the more moving moments occurred after a new song, “The Woman I Am.” Aksnes shared that fans had begun to ask her if the song, a celebration of self-love and womanhood, applied to trans women. She said that of course it does, and shared her disappointment that the question even needed to be asked. She then paused, kneeling on the stage floor as a small smirk played across her lips, and said “And if you disagree, you can leave.” This, of course, was met with thunderous applause.

Such themes of community and love were frequent throughout the set, with jubilant “Exist for Love” and fiery “Queendom” asserting Aksnes’ commitment to inclusivity and hope. Song after song was met with overwhelming cheers from the crowd, echoing throughout the venue and adding to the ethereal nature of Aurora’s own music. By the last note of encore “Giving Into Love,” the atmosphere in the venue was nothing short of magical.

Aurora at The Warfield

Aurora performs onstage at The Warfield in San Francisco, CA.

Author
Recent Posts

[email protected]

Dana Jacobs

[email protected] at [email protected]

Dana Jacobs has been a contributing photographer for Beyond the Stage since 2019. As a current physical therapy graduate student, photography is her preferred way to maintain sanity between classes and exams. When she's not studying or shooting a live show, Dana can be found listening to true crime podcasts and petting the nearest pup. Her favorite bands include Bastille, Panic! at the Disco, and The 1975.

[email protected]