At just 25 years old, Reneé Rapp boasts a box office-topping movie (Mean Girls), a hit TV show (HBO’s the sex Lives of College Girls) adn a No. 1 album (2025’s Bite Me debuted atop Album Sales). On Monday night (Sept. 29), the vocal powerhouse added another notch to her belt: her first headlining show at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden.
Launched in support of Bite Me which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and housed popular tracks like lead single “Leave Me Alone” and “I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone,” Rapp’s latest trek kicked off on Sept. 23 at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Across two hours of roof-raising vocal performances, Rapp treated the packed arena to the entirety of bite Me and a few tracks from her debut album, Snow Angel and also it’s preceding EP, Everything to Everyone.
The title track of the latter project served as rapp’s intro Monday night.After a video interlude in which Rapp played several different versions of herself (masc Reneé, pop star Reneé, everyday Reneé, etc.) to highlight the different roles she’s expected to play in her personal and professional lives, she softy sang “Everything to Everyone” before properly kicking the show off with the deliciously riotous “leave Me Alone.”
With no backup singers or dancers, Rapp made excellent use of her stage, which was comprised of a black-and-white checkered floor, a star-shaped platform lit up with pink lights, and a lift that she mounted on two seperate occasions. From her dramatic smoky eye makeup and silver-and-black outfit to her emphasis on her live band,Rapp nailed her singular amalgamation of glam rock and
Syd Warms Up the Stage for Reneé Rapp,Delivers a stunning Rendition of “Plastic Off the Sofa”
Syd’s stage to open for Reneé Rapp. With a smooth, tender tone and a lovably bashful stage presence, Syd ripped through a collection of songs that displayed her range as an artist, songwriter, and producer. Not only did she play her seductive new single, “Die for This,” but Syd also performed The Internet’s signature hit (“Girl”) and her infectious 2016 Kaytranada collaboration (“You’re the One”).
Of course, Syd smartly took the prospect to perform “Plastic Off the Sofa,” a track from Beyoncé’s Renaissance which she co-wrote and won her first Grammy with. Opting for a more lo-fi, jazz arrangement, Syd’s rendition felt unmistakably hers – a key feat for a song that already has such a recognizable, Grammy-winning version.
“Welcome to my Crash Out!”
After tearing through “Everything to Everyone” and a particularly fiery rendition of “Leave Me Alone,” Rapp took a brief minute to address the crowd. “My name is renée Rapp,” she proclaimed.”And welcome to my crash out!”
Ther are two things everyone should know about Renée Rapp: She’s a proud lesbian and a card-carrying member of the Beyhive.She stressed both parts of her identity throughout the show, but the Queen Bey tribute was one of the night’s most impressive moments.
After slaying “Daddy Lessons” during soundcheck, Rapp performed a full cover of Queen Bey’s “Ego,” a track from her 2008 I Am… Sasha Fierce LP, in the middle of the show. Sitting atop a grand piano, Rapp delivered a pitch-perfect rendition of the snap-laden track, including the intricate riffs in the bridge, which has spawned thier own tiktok Challenge. “If you don’t know that song, you’re too young,” she joked after basking in the rapturous applause. “I love Beyoncé!”
In an interview last year, Rapp gushed over receiving a bouquet of flowers from Beyoncé, citing her as “the reason that I know how to sing. I would sit down and listen to her different tonalities and phonics and phrasing styles and be like,’Please,Jesus,let me be able to do this.'” later that year,Queen Bey Reneé Rapp’s “In the Kitchen” – A Career-Defining Performance
Reneé Rapp’s concert on Sunday night featured standout vocal performances,but two songs in particular captivated the audience: “In the Kitchen” and “Snow Angel.” While “Leave Me Alone” opened the show with energy and “At Least I’m Hot” closed it out, it was the emotional depth of “in the Kitchen” that truly resonated. Originally released in 2022, “In the Kitchen” has become a pivotal song in Rapp’s career. The performance showcased not only her impressive vocal range and control – particularly remarkable over an hour into the show – but also the raw emotion behind the lyrics. Rapp’s expressive performance conveyed the song’s narrative without needing to rely on the backstory that initially accompanied its release. Now, three years and two albums after its debut, “In the Kitchen” is widely recognized as the song that propelled Reneé Rapp to pop stardom. It represents her transition from acting and stands as a powerful, poignant ballad. During the song’s conclusion, as Rapp surveyed the packed arena, her visible emotion – even through her makeup – connected with fans both new and long-time, solidifying the song’s place as a soundtrack to her success and a moment of shared triumph.