Day 3, SnowGlobe 2016

Screams and whistles faded into quiet anticipation.

“I used to walk by this venue every day on my way to work,” Rachel Platten told a hushed crowd. “I’d look up at this marquee and think to myself, ‘When my name is up there….I’ll know I made it.’"

When the Wildfire tour rolled through New York City this week, Platten’s name adorned the renowned Irving Plaza marquee for not one, but TWO sold out nights.

It felt like a celebration. In addition to the joy and energy present at most concerts, this show had an extra emotional charge. The years of memories - the long nights, the elation and disappointment, the struggles and successes that make up the journey of a developing artist - these things felt present in the room.

Rachel's set opened with total jam “Beating Me Up,” and remained uptempo through the first part of the set, which also included “Lone Ranger” and “You Don’t Know My Heart."

The way the crowd reacted, you’d think every song was Rachel's biggest hit, demonstrating both the strength of the set and the depth of her bond with her fans. Standout performances included “Angels in Chelsea,” “Stand By You,” “Superman,” and “Fight Song.” (The fact that I couldn’t narrow the best songs of the night down past four should also be an indicator of how good the set was.)

The performers onstage never stopped beaming. Patten stood on risers, scaled (and jumped off) the drum kit, rocked out on her guitars, pounded her keyboard, and belted her hits from center stage. The crowd reflected the band’s ear-to-ear smiles right back at them, and sang along to every word. I heard a lot of heart in the voices filling Irving Plaza.

Platten’s set ended with “Stand By You,” and the volume in the room reached unbelievable levels as the crowd waited for Rachel and crew to reemerge for the encore. She stepped back onstage to a deafening roar, and sang a stripped-down version of “Superman."

She paused before her final song (which we all knew would be her smash hit “Fight Song,” and the anticipation was palpable) to address the crowd, recounting the times she’d walk by the venue and dream of playing here.

“I made it because of you, all of you," she continued. “The industry didn’t make this happen. You did. After years and years of playing little venues around this city, I wrote a song about the experiences and the frustration. And that song, that song is the one that changed everything for me. Don’t give up on your dreams."

The keys came in, drums thundered, confetti canons exploded, and “Fight Song” triumphantly ended the night.

Click here for the full photoset.