Let's get your first question out of the way: Was this evening's Meghan Trainor show at the Granada enough fun to make up for the worries that accompanied its audience's slippery, risky journeys there?
Yep, I think so. In person, the 21-year-old singer easily delivered the charisma and bubblegum-pop charm found in the monster hit song that got her here.
I refer to "All About that Bass," a derriere-heralding anthem that's become familiar to pretty much everyone at this point. Even grandparents love it - Trainor shouted out her own grandmother and grandfather in the Granada's bustling audience a few times. But most of the crowd was made up of enthusiastic young'uns under 18.
It seems that Trainor has become a beacon for the teens, someone whose outward confidence inspires. I could tell as much because all the girls, especially, knew every word to every song, and sang along with the star to her frequent delight.
The music in the set came almost exclusively from Trainor's No. 1 album, Title. Joined by her five piece band, two backup singers and two dancers, she turned in pitch-perfect vocals on modern doo-wop tunes "Dear Future Husband" and the bubbly single, "Lips Are Movin." Having seen Diana Ross live on Thursday, I couldn't help but think of the influence of the Supremes whenever Trainor and her backup singers snapped their fingers and moved their arms in unison.
The retro vibes were strong with this one, even if she offered shades of Lauryn Hill, Beyoncé and Amy Winehouse in more dynamic tracks like the ukulele jam "Title" and the head-bobbing "3 am."
"You guys are supa dupa loud!" Trainor told the crowd after one of its typically rousing receptions. They treated her like a superhero. When she wasn't pushing out choreography in front of a Lite-Brite-inspired backdrop, Trainor sauntered around the front of the stage like nothing could bother her.
The only semi-vulnerable moment came during a slower song, "Like I'm Gonna Lose You." She dedicated it to her fans, comically dubbed the "Megatronz." And the 'tronz went wild when Trainor led a dance to Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk." She also took time before singing "Close Your Eyes" to wish a very lucky preteen girl a happy birthday on stage.
Trainor's short, taut performance - which started early in an act of mercy to the travelers in the audience - came to a glorious climax with "All About That Bass" and a blast of confetti. It was a small taste of what could be a larger and more expensive production when the singer comes back around.
Pop skeptics might wonder whether Trainor will find success beyond her debut album's touring cycle. They probably had similar doubts about Katy Perry and Britney Spears. It's not necessarily important at this moment whether Trainor becomes a permanent icon - the kids dancing and screaming in the Granada will likely remember her forever.
I caught but one of the evening's opening acts. The fans were already riled up in the 7 p.m. hour for Australian pop band Sheppard, who bounced around on stage like restless puppies. Their sound was a little Coldplay here, a little Mumford there, but catchy enough to engage the fans. I'd hire them for a prom.
Throughout the evening, many of those weary looking parents stood behind their offspring in the GA sections, no doubt having been through it with the weather worries of the day. But those who braved Friday night's show likely scored extra cool points with their teens in the process. Those points can go a long way, I'm told.
