Olivia Dean took over Crypto.com Arena for the first of two sold-out nights at the iconic L.A. venue for her Art of Loving Tour on Tuesday night, in a moment that emphasized just how quickly the British singer has gone from promising rising act to bona fide superstar.
“It’s mental to be here after playing the Fonda last time; it’s not lost on me that that’s a big jump,” Dean told the crowd after performing the first couple of songs of her set, further thanking fans for their support after her breakout album The Art of Loving “changed my life.”
As Dean said, just under a year ago, she was playing her most recent L.A. shows at Hollywood’s Fonda Theatre — a much smaller 1,200-cap room compared to the nearly 20,000-seat arena where she’s now holding court. And it was only six months ago she was on this very stage during the Grammys, giving a teary-eyed speech after winning best new artist.
Dean, 27, is bringing an old school entertainer’s flair to her arena run, complete with disco balls, a jazzy horn section, and a backing band all outfitted in matching black suits and dresses. Her fans met the moment too, donning dresses, full-length skirts and other attire a tad more formal than what one may expect for a typical L.A. concert.
