The Only Love Tour (originally dubbed the Gag Order Tour[1]) was the sixth headlining concert tour by American singer Kesha, in support of her fifth studio album, Gag Order (2023). She announced the tour on May 30, 2023, with Jake Wesley Rogers as the supporting act. The tour began on October 15, 2023, at The Factory in Dallas, Texas and concluded on November 26 at Hard Rock Live Sacramento in Wheatland, California.[2][3]
| Tour by Kesha | |
 Promotional poster for the tour | |
| Location | North America |
|---|---|
| Associated album | Gag Order |
| Start date | October 15, 2023 |
| End date | November 26, 2023 |
| No. of shows | 26 |
| Supporting acts | |
| Kesha concert chronology | |
Background
editSince 2014, Kesha has been involved in a legal battle against her former producer and longtime collaborator, Dr. Luke, putting her career on hold.[4] She released her final album under RCA Records and the Dr. Luke owned Kemosabe Records, Gag Order on May 19, 2023. The record saw Kesha dive into her more vulnerable side, as well as alluding to the lawsuit for the first time in her music. In June 2023, Kesha and Dr. Luke released a joint statement saying they have reached a settlement, about a month before the case was to go to trial.[5]
Kesha described the tour to be a combination of joy, celebration, and moments of extreme, raw, vulnerability. The tour will also see performances of songs from her fourth album, High Road, as the coronavirus pandemic prevented Kesha from fully touring that album. Kesha also brought up the possibility of performing songs she isn't fond of. "There are definitely some songs that are not my favorites," she said to People magazine, "but I feel like I don't want to tell my fans that because if it's their number-one most favorite song, I don't want to kill the vibe. I also am open to, on this tour, playing some of the songs that are maybe not my favorites and creating new memories around them."[6]
During a show in Boston, Kesha addressed the name change from the "Gag Order Tour" to the "Only Love Tour" by saying with all of life's difficulties, the only thing she could make sense of it all, referring to the lawsuit settlement, was love.[7]
Critical reception
editSophia Solano of The Washington Post gave a positive review of the October 29, 2023, show. She praised the maturity in Kesha's voice calling it "powerful". She notes that she is "free", referring to the lawsuit between the singer and Dr. Luke that lasted nearly a decade.[8]
Set list
editThis set list is from the show on October 15, 2023, in Dallas.[9] It does not represent all concerts for the tour.
- "Only Love Can Save Us Now"
- "Tik Tok"
- "Cannibal"
- "Backstabber"
- "Raising Hell"
- "Take It Off"
- "Good Old Days" (interlude)
- "Eat the Acid"
- "Till the World Ends"
- "Hymn"
- "Hate Me Harder"
- "Ram Dass Interlude"
- "Timber"
- "Your Love Is My Drug"
- "Die Young"
- "Blow"
- Encore
- "Praying"
- "We R Who We R"
Additional notes
editTour dates
editReferences
edit- ^ Gonzalez, Rebekah (September 14, 2023). "Kesha Changes Name of Her 'Gag Order' Tour After A 'Transformative Year'". WQGA. United States: iHeartMedia. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (May 30, 2023). "Kesha Announces 2023 Tour Dates in Support of 'Gag Order' – Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ Kesha [@KeshaRose] (June 2, 2023). "ADDED MORE DATES BC YALL ATE THEM UP, BREAKFAST AND LUNCH GAG ORDER TOUR TIX ON SALE NOW. https://keshaofficial.com/tour/" (Tweet). Retrieved June 3, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Maria Sherman (8 August 2016). "Kesha's Live Rebirth: What Her 'Fuck the World' Tour Means for Her Future". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ Cullins, Ashley (June 22, 2023). "Kesha and Dr. Luke Settle Legal Battle Ahead of Trial". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ Irvin, Jack (June 28, 2023). "Kesha Says She's at 'Peace' and 'Happier Than Ever' as She Prepares for Upcoming Gag Order Tour (Exclusive)". PEOPLE.
- ^ a b Emde, Laura (November 2, 2022). "Review & setlist: 'The party don't start 'til' Kesha walks into MGM Music Hall at Fenway". Boston.com.
- ^ a b Solano, Sophia (October 30, 2023). "Her 'Gag Order' lifted, Kesha is more free than ever at the Anthem". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Lane, Lexi (October 16, 2023). "Kesha's 'Only Love Tour' Setlist". uproxx.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.