THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR.
photos of Kesha waiting for management approval
Darien, NY—On a pleasantly cool Thursday evening, following three brutal days of 90-degree heat, the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center became ground zero for one of the most electric events of the summer: ‘The Tits Out Tour.’ With pop rebel Kesha at the helm, flanked by the genre-bending glam of Scissor Sisters and rising British phenom Rose Gray, the packed-to-capacity amphitheater buzzed with anticipation. In fact, this show marked a rare milestone for the venue announced as a full-on sellout, a feat not often achieved in recent years.
At 38 years old, Kesha is enjoying one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent pop music history. With 46.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, she currently outranks legends like The Beatles, Madonna, AC/DC, and the Goo Goo Dolls. That level of streaming dominance speaks volumes. Especially for an artist who spent nearly a decade battling her record label and the powerful producer behind it. The legal war—which included abuse allegations, defamation suits, and contract disputes—left Kesha unable to release music freely and nearly destroyed her spirit. But she didn’t fold. She fought back. And now, with her own label (Kesha Records), full creative control, and a brand-new record called “Period,” Kesha is finally free to do things her way. Thursday night’s show at Darien Lake PAC wasn’t just another tour stop. It was the roar of an artist who earned every bit of that stage. A celebration of survival, independence, and the will to keep going.
Touring behind “Period,” her first release on her own label, Kesha Records, Kesha didn’t waste any time flaunting her talents. She hit the stage at 9:10PM, and from the opening blast of “Tik Tok,” it was clear—this wasn’t about playing it safe or rehashing old hits. This was about owning the stage and doing things her way.
The production was massive: killer choreography, lighting that hit like a lightning strike, and costume changes flying in like scenes from a pop fever dream. She sat at a grand piano and poured everything into “Praying,” shredded a few chords on guitar, and sang perfectly all evening long. But,Kesha wasn’t just performing, she was reclaiming her voice in real time. Maybe some bitterness still, but mostly just pure celebration.
This tour was for anyone who’s been pushed aside or told to stay in the corner. Kesha made sure they knew they mattered. It was a loud, proud push to dream big, take control, and never apologize for being exactly who you are.
Although it was a spectacular show from top to bottom, one small critique was the lag between segments—those transitions stretched on a bit too long, usually filled with instrumental loops or dance beats played to a dimly lit stage. But honestly, it didn’t matter. With this tour, and this crowd, Kesha proved she’s not just back—she’s legendary. The audience absolutely adored her, and she’s now standing shoulder to shoulder with the greats. Lady Gaga and Madonna.
Scissor Sisters returned to the stage for about an hour-long performance with a vengeance, bringing their signature glam-meets-pop to Darien Lake PAC. Original members Jake Shears, Babydaddy, and Del Marquis wasted no time, kicking off with the hit “Laura” and the crowd was locked in within seconds. Backed by recently added vocalists Bridget Barkan and Amber Martin, the band tore through a 12-song set packed with provocative energy, landing comfortably in MA-18 territory.
Highlights included their big hit “Take Your Mama,” along with the mesmerizing cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” mesmerized, and “Let’s Have a Kiki” which pushed the party into overdrive. But the closer, “Music Is the Victim,” turned the night into an all-out orgy of sound and spectacle. Kesha knew exactly what she was doing—Scissor Sisters were the perfect act to fire up the crowd and set the tone. No rulebook rewritten here-just pure chaos and theatrical shock, and 100 percent fun.
Rose Gray opened the night with a short but solid set of electro-dance-pop that got the crowd warmed up early. Touring behind her debut album ‘Louder, Please,’ she mixed stylish vocals with upbeat tracks like “Prettier Than You” and “Everything Changes (But I Won’t),” showing off both confidence and edge. The amphitheater was already filling up fast, and she made good use of the spotlight—no gimmicks, just a cool stage presence and polished delivery. For someone who nearly quit music at 19, it was clear she’s on the rise and didn’t come to play around.
Overall, this was a fun summer night out that worked for just about anyone in the crowd, though the majority were females under 25. Rose Gray kicked things off with a smooth set of dance-pop, Scissor Sisters brought their wild glam style and shock-factor energy, and Kesha closed it out like a star who earned her moment. The lineup gave fans three totally different styles that worked well together—juxtaposed in a way that kept things fresh and exciting. All three artists brought something special, and you can tell they’re all headed upward in their own lane.
Setlist
TiK ToK
Only Love Can Save Us Now
Warrior
Crazy Kids
C’Mon
Thinking of You
Gold Trans Am
ACT II: HEAVEN IN HELL
Out Alive
Sleazy
BOY CRAZY.
Cannibal
DELUSIONAL.
Take It Off
ACT III: GENIUS OR CRAZY?
Blow
The Drama
Fine Line
Ram Dass Interlude
Happy
Eat the Acid
ACT IV: FREEDOM CUNT
FREEDOM.
ATTENTION!
JOYRIDE.
YIPPEE-KI-YAY.
Timber(Pitbull cover)
RED FLAG (With a snippet of “Whip It” by Devo)
Dinosaur
Die Young
ACT V: PERIOD.
CATHEDRAL.
Praying
Your Love Is My Drug
We R Who We R
LOVE FOREVER.
.
Thomas S. Orwat Jr.
RockMusicStar.com 
Leave a comment