Pink / Sheryl Crow @ Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX

Words and photos by Duane Clawson

If anyone ever doubted things were bigger in Texas, one look at Pink’s stage inside Globe Life Field would surely remove your suspicions! Texans waited a long time for this one, two cancelations and eighteen months to be exact. The wait was so long that I forgot I was approved to cover this show in September of 2023. To prolong the experience just a bit longer, I had the unpleasant task of commuting to Arlington during rush hour. Arriving with just minutes to spare, I am quickly ushered to the Globe Life floor to catch Sheryl Crow’s opening set. Alright, this better be one hell of a show!

Stepping on to what is normally the Texas Rangers baseball field makes one feel ridiculously small. Seeing the tour’s massive stage, giant video screens, and extended PA system had me thinking I should have brought a bigger lens! Leaving the dramatic entry to Pink, Sheryl Crow walks on to the stage as casual and confident as one of her songs. From elementary music school teacher, to touring with Michael Jackson, Miss Crow has been there and done that! Putting the icing on the cake, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. Her production is small and simple in comparison to the enormity of the stage, but her voice is still going strong, 37 years into her career.

With an hour to warm up the crowd, Sheryl and her band wasted no time getting to the songs that made her a household name. “All I Wanna Do,” “Soak Up the Sun,” and “If It Makes You Happy” were all present and sounding great! I had almost forgotten how well Crow could own a cover song! She reminded the 65,000 in attendance with Rod Stewart’s “The First Cut is the Deepest.” And doing the Rolling Stones justice with her rendition of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” Wrapping things up, she plays what could easily be her forty yearlong autobiography, “Everyday is a Winding Road.” With the first act complete, I am slowly forgetting about my struggles to make it to this point, Pink it is time to rescue this night completely!

This would be my third time experiencing a Pink show, but this one certainly took it to a new level! The previous two shows were in a smaller venue in Indianapolis. If her stage were on a baseball field it would easily span the distance between first and third base, one hundred and twenty-seven feet! One could easily spend the night picking out the details surrounding Pink. Inflatable fifty-foot tall, mirrored palm trees flank the stage, while an upside down, studded, melting ice cream cone serves as a drum riser. A ginormous video screen projects images that are normally found on LSD trips. It is widely known that Pink likes to fly during her shows. Tonight, she opened the show doing a fall from a set of snarling lips, sixty feet above the stage!

The harness snatches her up and tosses her into the air! Spinning through the air Pink opens with the apropos “Get the Party Started.” Landing briefly, she is surrounded by dancers in colorful costumes, adding to the carnival-like atmosphere. She speaks directly to the audience, at times the banter seems silly, but she always gives you the feeling she is coming from the heart. Sitting solo at a piano, she shows off her skills as a musician covering Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love.” And speaking of covers great versions of Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker” and 4 Non Blondes “What Up” find a home in her setlist. Keeping it in the family, the 45 year old entertainer brings daughter Willow out for a duet on “Cover Me In Sunshine.” The kid just might have a future in the business!

Covering all the bases, so to speak, she even incorporates an all-inclusive version of a Kiss Cam. As the tours and venues have become bigger Pink’s ability to reach the whole audience became smaller. Problem solved; she will just fly out to see them! In a specially designed waist harness she takes to the air during the encore “So What.” Soaring through the air she waves at fans as she passes by. With her feet back on the stage she stumbles briefly after removing her flight apparatus, those dizzying spins make me unstable just watching them! Giving screaming Texas fans her love and admiration, the songwriter leaves the stage to her band. I think I can safely say the battle to get here was well worth it, now on to the next issue, ‘where did I park?”

Thank you to Pink’s crew for allowing MTC MAG to be front and center! Also, thanks to Globe Life Field for keeping it orderly and safe!

Photos of the show are below:

Sheryl Crow