MSP Showed Up to Observe the Magic of FKA Twigs
FKA Twigs. That’s It. That’s the Review
By Macie Rasmussen
As the crowd filed into the Palace Theater in St. Paul on November 14, the room could be described as confident, gothic, and fervent. Platform heels, decorative nails, black lipstick, septum rings, and colored hair were some of the visual consistencies. As the showgoers settled into the venue, the lights dimmed. There was no opener. This was a night with FKA Twigs.
Tahliah Debrett Barnett, who goes by FKA Twigs, stepped through a curtain to a series of cheers and gasps. She blew a kiss to the crowd and tap-danced under a single light, then headed back through the curtain. She emerged again as the curtains drew back and revealed Twigs with a swan headpiece, as she sang “Hide,” seemingly floating across the stage.
While Twigs’ solo power didn’t need any backup, she was joined by a team of four dancers who added to the drama. She presented most of the songs on her most recent album, “MAGDALENE,” and of course old fan favorites, such as “Figure 8” and “Video Girl.”
Just as the “MAGDALENE” album contained multitudes of emotion, there were moments in which tears could be seen on the faces of crowd members and the singer too. After a voice break at the end of “Mirrored Heart,” she dramatically wiped away a tear as she transitioned into “Papi Pacify.” This theme of mourning, turning rapidly into sensual jubilation, was consistent from start to finish. Another joyous moment came when Twigs displayed her recently mastered talent of pole dancing to “Lights On.”
Along with her acrobatic talents, Twigs showcased her stamina throughout the show. She took no breaks except when she announced that she had been on Palace’s stage exactly five years ago. Beyond pole and tap dancing, she sword danced around the stage with agility and skill that one could only guess took many hours to learn.
Toward the end of the show, after the vibrant, euphoric song, “Two Weeks,” in which pink confetti rained down from Palace’s ceiling, the curtains closed once again. Twigs stood front and center until the audience finally grew silent. It was the moment everyone was waiting for. There were whispers in the crowd of, “She’s going to do ‘Cellophane.’” The words “Didn’t I do it for you” slowly escaped from her mouth, and for the next three minutes, the room was still.
Twigs’ performance was more than a concert—it was theater. In accordance with that description, the performer ended by taking a hand-holding bow with her team of dancers and musicians. It was one of those shows in which the audience’s captivation overrode their desire to dance. Twigs’ fans stood and observed her unfaltering voice and beautiful movements that can only be described as calculated and awe-inspiring.