Liveshot: Billie Eilish hits Austin Hard and Soft

Courtesy of Henry Hwu

Following the release of her latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, Billie Eilish headlined the Moody Center on Thursday alongside opener Men I Trust. From the first instrumental notes to the closing moments of “BLUE,” Eilish’s performance alternated between intimate and high-energy.

Standing on a box, Eilish opened her show with “CHIHIRO,” pointing her mic to the crowd, inviting fans into her blue-lit world. “LUNCH” followed, bringing playful energy as Eilish ran across the stage, encouraging the audience to dance, while “NDA” cast a feeling of darkness across the arena as blue lights swept across the stage. Transitioning into “Therefore I Am,” sirens flared before the gentle lullaby of “WILDFLOWER” brought a quiet, echoing chorus.

Eilish lay at the center stage as live, looped vocal layers swirled through the arena during “When the party’s over.” Eilish’s vocals brought the song to life in a way that felt completely immersive, as if to experience every emotion alongside her.

“THE DINER” felt like a security-camera horror scene with red lighting and blurred visuals. During a shortened “ilomilo,” audience members waved colored paper, transforming the crowd into a living canvas.

“It’s such a dark time in the world, it’s hard to feel hopeful and like anything you’re doing is making an impact. I find myself feeling like that a lot,” Eilish said. “I got this feeling the other day, and I am so grateful to (perform). … I love seeing all of you in this room, feeling like we get to share this joy and have this experience.”

Playing her guitar center stage, Eilish invited the audience to slow down during “Your Power.” “SKINNY” followed, adding more soft, reflective moments before she showed off her vocal range with a cover of “Cry Me a River,” originally performed by Julie London.

Jumping out from the side stage, Eilish brought electric energy, lighting up the arena while performing “Guess.” Following with “everything i wanted,” Eilish pointed the camera toward fans as she sang, creating an intimate connection with the audience. She furthered this connection during “BLUE,” running along the barricade, weaving through the crowd.

At the start of “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE,” Eilish’s voice carried sassy echoes singing, “And you moved on,” while the beat built toward the outro. Eilish commanded attention, transitioning into the extended outro, floating as lights scattered around the room.

“I just want to thank you all one more time, I love you so much,” Eilish said, “You are so precious to me, I will always fight for you and stand up for you.”

Singing the award-winning “What Was I Made For?” Eilish poured emotion into every note, her powerful vocals filling the arena. It proved a standout moment that perfectly showcased her talent, demonstrating why she’s one of her generation’s compelling performers.

Closing the night with standout track, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” blue lights washed over the crowd and confetti rained from above, before Eilish gently brought the show to a close by revisiting the soft outro of “BLUE”.

By the end of the night, Eilish transformed the Moody Center into her own immersive world where vulnerability and playfulness coexisted. Her connection with the audience made every lyric hit, and the mix of emotional and high-energy moments made the concert unforgettable.

This article was written for The Daily Texan the official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin