So, Kesha in Salt Lake City. Honestly, it was a lot. If you were scrolling through social media back in July 2025, you probably saw the headlines. Some people called it a "satanic ritual," others called it a spiritual rebirth, and a few just wanted to know why the bass was so loud they could feel their teeth rattling.
It was the opening night of the Tits Out Tour. July 1, 2025, at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre. 18,000 people packed into West Valley City. It wasn't just a concert; it was the first time Kesha stood on a stage as a truly independent artist after years of legal hell. She had just dropped "Joyride" and was days away from releasing her album . (the period album). The energy was high, the glitter was mandatory, and the drama? Well, that was built into the setlist.
The Show That Divided Utah
Utah is a funny place for a tour kickoff. You’ve got the die-hard fans who have been there since the "Tik Tok" days, and then you have the local critics who aren't exactly ready for a show themed around "liberation and sexual freedom."
The backlash started almost immediately. Lisa Wilson—yeah, Zach Wilson’s mom—went on a bit of a tear, calling the show a "weird satanic ritual." She told parents to keep their kids away. Why? Because Kesha walked out holding a fake human head that looked exactly like her. She asked the crowd to put their middle fingers up and changed the opening lyrics of "Tik Tok" to "Wake up in the morning like fuck P. Diddy."
It was aggressive. It was punk. And for a lot of people in the Beehive State, it was a bit much.
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But here’s the thing: Kesha wasn't trying to be "appropriate." She told the crowd right at the start, "Tonight, I will not play a show for you. I want to play a show with you." The whole night was structured as her life story—the trauma, the court cases, the rebirth. If you went looking for the bubblegum Kesha of 2010, you were in for a shock. This version of Kesha in Salt Lake City was raw, loud, and unapologetically messy.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Setlist
People always complain about the hits. "She didn't play the full version of Cannibal!" "Why was Blow so short?"
I get it. But there’s a reason for it. Kesha actually re-produced almost every song she released before October 2014 for this tour. She stripped the old production out because she wanted to reclaim the work. In Salt Lake City, we saw shortened versions of "Warrior," "Crazy Kids," and "C’Mon"—songs she hadn’t touched in nearly a decade.
It felt like a montage. A way of saying, "I'm acknowledging these, but I'm moving on."
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Then she’d hit you with the new stuff. "Red Flag" was a massive standout. She played a Jackson Rhoads guitar while wearing a top made of giant gloves. It was weird. It was visually jarring. But it proved she’s not just a "recession pop" icon anymore. She’s an experimentalist.
The Setlist Reality Check
- The Highs: "Praying" (obviously), "Joyride," and the "Tik Tok" refresh.
- The Surprises: "Thinking of You" made its first appearance since 2013.
- The Gripes: Some of the transitions in SLC felt like a dress rehearsal. There were long, awkward silences where the stage crew was clearly still figuring out the costume changes.
The $700 Joyride Experience: Was It a Scam?
If you spent $700 on the "Joyride" VIP package in Salt Lake City, you probably have some thoughts. Reddit was on fire after the show with fans complaining about the "behind-the-scenes tour" that was basically just a walk through the food court.
Look, the "Animal Hall of Fame" was essentially a community dining area with some boas and glitter. The "on-stage photo" wasn't a photoshoot—it was a 30-second moment on the corner of the stage with your back to the venue. Fans in SLC felt a bit slighted because the experience didn't match the price tag.
But there was one highlight: meeting Pebe Sebert (Kesha’s mom). She was hanging out with the VIPs, and for the hardcore fans, that connection meant more than the plastic grocery bag of "exclusive" merch (which apparently included nipple pasties and a temporary tramp stamp).
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Why This Specific Show Matters
Kesha in Salt Lake City wasn't just a tour stop. It was a litmus test.
The "Tits Out Tour" was co-headlined by the Scissor Sisters, marking their first U.S. tour in 13 years. The pairing was brilliant—glam-disco meets independent pop. Even though there were technical hiccups (the bass mix was so heavy it drowned out the vocals for the first three songs), the show was a statement.
While Utah critics were focused on the "satanic" vibes, the fans saw a woman who had finally won. In later stops like Massachusetts, she got a seven-minute standing ovation for "Praying." That energy started in SLC. It was the "rough draft" of her freedom.
Practical Insights for the Next Tour
If you missed Kesha in Salt Lake City and are looking at 2026 dates in Europe or the festivals, here is the real-world advice:
- Bring Earplugs: I’m serious. The production on this tour is bass-heavy. Several fans in Utah reported physical pain from the vibration. High-fidelity earplugs will actually help you hear her vocals better.
- Skip the Highest VIP Tier: Unless you just want to support her financially, the mid-tier tickets usually give you better sightlines. The "Joyride" stage design makes it hard to see her if you're right at the barricade.
- Expect Revisions: Kesha is a "live" artist. She tweaks things. The version of the show we saw in July 2025 is likely different from what she'll bring to Bonnaroo or the UK in 2026.
- Embrace the "Mess": If you want a polished, lip-synced Disney show, stay home. This tour is about raw emotion and sometimes-awkward transitions.
Kesha's return to the stage wasn't perfect, but it was honest. And in a world of over-sanitized pop stars, maybe a little "satanic" glitter in Salt Lake City is exactly what we needed.
Check the official Kesha website for the remaining 2026 international dates or look for her on the festival circuit this summer. If you're heading to a show, dress like you're going to a funeral for your past self and a birthday party for your future—that's the vibe.