Alex Casey reports back from the opening night of Doja Cat’s Tour Ma Vie at Auckland’s Spark Arena.
The Doja Cat theatrics started long before the pop-rap queen even set a single pink stiletto heel on stage. With Auckland in a heavy rain warning, punters outside Spark Arena were peeling off $2 ponchos and collapsing Bunnings umbrellas to reveal the most staggering outfits the city has ever seen on a soggy Tuesday. Turquoise sequin halters, satin pink ruffle skirts, leopard fur boots, a boob tube that said “MOTHER” on the front and “FUCKER” on the back. And of course the endless cow print, a nod to the viral hit that established Doja as an A-grade silly bugger.
There were more references to unpack with opening act Sailorr, whose baby pink comedy-sized rosette reading “crash out” was offset with her signature blackened smile – a revival of the Vietnamese tradition of nhuộm răng đen. We took our seats as she launched into the unbelievably catchy ‘Bitches Brew’ followed by ‘Sincerity’ while flanked by two dancers laced with girly ribbons. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for this song” she said of her TikTok hit ‘Pookie’s Requiem’. Equal parts cutesy and venomous, she was the perfect aperitif for what was to come.
Sailorr opens for Doja Cat at Spark Arena. Image: Alex Casey
Being the very first night of the world tour, and with her Coachella and VMAs sets establishing her as one of the most thrilling live performers we have, there was a lot of speculation in the crowd. A male voice testing out the autotune led to two girls behind us frothing about a surprise guest, while we were busy making bets about how many costume and wig changes there’d be. But as the bluesy sax filled the arena and Doja slinked up the stairs in scarlet red tights and hot pink heels, it soon became clear that there were no gimmicks needed.
Performing on a giant illuminated geometric stage straight from 80s Top of the Pops, Doja Cat unleashed a charisma-packed 90-minute set that began with a trio of songs emblematic of her astounding range: ‘Cards’, with her new Janet Jackson-inspired synth sound, TikTok rap staple ‘Get into It (Yuh)’, and hooky pop hit ‘Kiss Me More’. Her live band boogied around the stage in crisp white 80s shoulder pads and high-cut leotards, while she commanded every moment of attention in a blonde shag wig, bedazzled bodysuit and glowing neon orange nails.
Doja Cat opens Tour Ma Vie at Spark Arena. Image: Tom Grut
Those same nails mimed everything from a loaded gun to devil horns over the course of the night, just one example of the former breakdancer’s endless ability to express herself physically. She threw herself onto the ground amid flamethrowers and fireworks while not missing a beat of the bravado bars of ‘Wet Vagina’. For ‘Demons’ she crawled backwards with a physicality usually reserved for Andy Serkis doing mo-cap and/or possessed girls tackling a set of stairs. She even did a peacocky Mick Jagger strut while covering ‘I’m a Man’ by Spencer Davis Group.
As well as not stopping for a single breath while alternating between rapping, belting and dancing, she also reminded us that she is, primarily, a deeply funny and weird edgelord. During ‘Juicy’, which Doja Cat herself describes as “a butt song”, she had the entire arena in hysterics with a single jiggle of a single asscheek. For the lyrics “I give ’em these teeth like Keira Knightley” she delivered ratty face and hands so savage that I’m just grateful Knightley lives in another hemisphere. At one point, she simply strangled herself with the mic cord for a laugh.
Doja Cat’s stage for Tour Ma Vie at Spark Arena. Image: Tom Grut
The more subdued moments came with some of the lesser-known tracks from Vie, her latest album that received mixed reviews and suffered further from being sandwiched between releases from Cardi B and Taylor Swift. But that’s not to say these songs were anything close to a disappointment. In fact, sometime after the sweat had soaked through her body suit, she had done an anti-gravity lean with the mic stand, and gutturally screamed us through a “MEN AIN’T SHIT” chant, I realised she’s probably the most electric live performer I’ve ever seen.
Doja Cat closed with her lead single ‘Jealous Type’, the undeniable funk of which had even us Keira Knightley types up on our feet, serving ratty little hands. “Auckland, this might be the last song,” she said to the rapturous crowd. “But it’s not the end.” Indeed, for all our failed predictions about gimmicks, guests and costume changes, she did have one surprise left in the closing moments. Gripping a bouquet and beaming as she thanked her band and back-up singers, Doja Cat started to hand out red roses, one by one, to screaming fans.
As if she hadn’t given us enough already, we got her flowers too.