Allstate Arena descends into the dark, dramatic “Hades” of mesmerizing Melanie Martinez

Photos by Curt Baran

Melanie Martinez has been recognized since the genesis of her career as a somewhat playful, innocuous pop product. She has even jokingly referred to herself as a “Disney Princess.”

Her first three releases were examples of lighthearted, sugary-sweet songs that steadily grew a significant audience, but never really expanded an calculated risk. Then the whole of the world turned to s***.

Martinez’s latest album, “Hades,” is a compelling shift to darkness that has resulted in a sprawling, double album that follows the story of her fictional character, Circle, attempting to emerge from a cult, only to face a world resembling fascism that wants possession of people’s hearts and souls. So, essentially, her first piece of non-fiction.

She recently took the concept on the road in the form of her “Hades: The Sacrifice” Tour. Armed with Broadway-worthy production values, the show touched down at Rosemont’s Allstate Arena and was greeted by a packed house, most who came dressed for the occasion (queens, witches, fairies and even a few priests).

During the opener “Garbage,” she emerged from a suitcase atop a scene resembling a young child’s bedroom, fully adorned with frilly pillowcases and a china doll. Before the start of “Is This A Cult?” she would recite the first of many pre-recorded soliloquies that all served to advance the story’s mesmerizing narrative.

With a phalanx-like army of dancers at her disposal, Martinez deftly moved from her spacious main stage to a second b-stage, not wasting a single opportunity to engage in esoteric, interpretative dance moves, helping to sell the drama with spinning pirouettes and perfectly timed hair tosses.

And so it would go throughout the entirety of the 18-song performance, the new album performed from start to finish. Amid much online grousing about the darker nature of the new material, it needs to be said that their comes a time when the innocence of adolescence must be washed off and the monotonous work of adulting prepares us for an uncertain future.

Perhaps Martinez has arrived at that destination a bit quicker than some of her audience. It’s also a reminder that, at least where growing older is concerned, the end is rarely as fun as the start. Perhaps that’s why they call them growing pains.

For additional information on Melanie Martinez, visit MelanieMartinezMusic.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming shows at the Allstate Arena include Benson Boone (Jul. 24-25); Chicago and Styx (Aug. 1); Mon Laferte (Aug. 15); Los Ángeles Azules (Aug. 22); Grupo Frontera (Aug. 26); Don Toliver (Aug. 28); Chayanne (Aug. 29); Marco Antonio Solís (Sept. 5); Jaripeo Ranchero (Oct. 3); Don Omar (Oct. 8); Zach Top (Oct. 9); Disney’s “Descendants,” “ZOMBIES” “Camp Rock” (Oct. 21); Maná (Oct. 30) and Zac Brown Band (Nov. 21). For additional details, visit Rosemont.com/Allstate/.

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Allstate Arena descends into the dark, dramatic “Hades” of mesmerizing Melanie Martinez

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