© Jonathan Scott Shensa Photography

Greetings and welcome to another edition of my journey exploring some of the entertainment industry’s coolest events. This blog is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of one of the greatest debut albums of the 21st century: Badlands. It is the debut studio album by American singer Halsey (a.k.a. Ashley Nicolette Frangipane). It was released on August 28, 2015, via Astralwerks. The album blends electropop, dark pop, alternative pop, synth-pop, with touches of industrial sound. Badlands debuted at #2 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with strong first-week sales. Wikipedia +1 It has been certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA. Wikipedia +1 It’s one of very few albums where every track achieved RIAA certification (Gold, Platinum, or multi-Platinum).

Badlands is a concept album: Halsey describes it as taking place in a fictional dystopian world called “The Badlands”—a metaphorical landscape representing her mental and emotional state during that period. The name Badlands is symbolic; it gives a physical form to feelings of desolation, isolation, and inner turmoil.In simple terms, it’s a kick-ass album with many different styles of music and stories. This is the second blog I’ve done on Halsey. My first was about the opening night of her Spring/Summer tour.

Regarding my last feature: The Tour was Halsey’s fifth headlining concert tour, supporting her fifth studio album, The Great Impersonator (2024). The tour began in Concord on May 10, 2025, and concluded in Highland on July 6, 2025. You can find that blog and photos from the show here. https://tinyurl.com/2s4xkaru

My personal experience with Halsey started the first time I heard the song “New Americana”. The songs catchy chorus “We are the new Americana
High on legal marijuana Raised on Biggie and Nirvana We are the New Americana.” The great thing about “Badlands is every song on the album is amazing in its own way. When I saw her in Concord the only negative thing I can say was she only played 4 songs of “Badlands”, which was completely understandable since the tour was in support of “The Great Impersonator” in my opinion the best album of 2025. Too bad the record company didn’t put it on their Grammy promotion for your concideration. Halsey released a live album of “Badlands” tour Badlands (Live From Webster Hall) is Halsey‘s first live album. It was released on August 28, 2020 through Capitol Records to celebrate the five year anniversary of her album, Badlands. The album was recorded on May 8, 2019 during the Badlands concert at Webster Hall.

After seeing the show in Concord I wrote a post saying for the 10th Anniversary she should do a Badlands tour. She must have read my mind. The Back to Badlands tour kicks off October 14 with “a very special show” at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Forever before the trek moves eastward. Stops include Atlanta’s Roxy, Washington DC’s the Anthem and New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom before the North American leg concludes January 17 at Detroit’s Fillmore. After that, the Badlands 10th anniversary tour moves to Europe and Australia.

Tickets for the shows in small venues was one of the cheapest around with tickets with fees were less than 100 bucks. I was hoping for a San Francisco or Northern California show but there were not any. So if Halsey dosent come to me, I’ll go to her. After not being able to get tickets for opening night I was able to get tickets for the second night at Hollywood Forever. When I googled it I found this: Hollywood Forever, cemetery, mortuary & cultural event center in the heart of Hollywood, offers cremation, funeral & memorial services. I then found out the venue also has concerts and movies on the lawn. I first thought that makes sense for her since one of her popular songs is “Graveyard”.

I arrived at the venue in the middle of Hollywood to see a line of people. Halsey sings about strong women who don’t need no man, so it was not a surpprise the crown was 75% female. This show seemed to have an older age comparded to Concord, where there we a lot of kids and teenagers. As I got to the show I had to walk through the cemetary with very artistic headstones. You couldn’t beleive you were in Hollywood or at a concert. I finally got to the stage are and was able to gets towards the middle of the pit. The crowed was so excited and were singing songs before the show even started. Fans kept on talking about what they hoped she would play besides “Badlands”. If you never been to a Halsey show she dosent go out and play her greatest hits. Its not a No Doubt show were the entire set is their greatest hits and singles released. She goes to great lengths to make sure she finds the right songs to go along with her latest release.

The show started on time at 7:30. A unique tribute: The performance focused on Halsey’s debut album, Badlands. The performance took fans back to her “blue-haired Tumblr days”. Many of the fans wore blue wigs in honor of her
Album classics: The setlist included all of Badlands, but not in order like she did at Webster Hall. The set also included”Without Me” and “Bad at Love,” were reimagined within the Badlands theme. Fans were given 3D glasses for the beginng and later in the show. This was my first exsperience with 3D at a concert. It defiatly enhanced the performance.

The Hollywood Forever Cemetery created a memorable backdrop for the show. The fans got there early and headed for the merch tent which was located next to the general admission line. The t shirts were $50 which were a little less than the TGI merch.

Halsey decided on smaller venues for this tour, Halsey created a more personal and reflective show, allowing for a deeper connection with fans. Fans were able to get much closer than they did at her sold out Hollywood Bowl show in May. If your a Halsey fan, you know how much shew loves and cared for her fans. She never talks down to them. She is a strong female which many of the ladies singing along with the personal lyrics. Everything about Halsey is real. You can feel that in the music and during her talking a live performances. There was a girl in front of me that was live streaming the entire show to a friend of hers who was so excited to be able to share the experience. That’s what a Halsey show is not just a concert its an experience. Halsey brings together all people not based on gender, age, sex orientation every fan is different, unique and loves Halsey for a different reasons. Her lyrics are about finding yourself and being independent and not listening to what other people are saying.

The show started with a Badlands TV video Halsey opened the show with “Badlands”Gasoline” and was followed by one of most popular songs “Castle”. Where she demanded her audience to not just stand up but to jump. If you want to go to a concert where you can sit on the grass, bring a picnic, while you are on social media this is not the show for you. Halsey shows are events where fans take part in the show. She tells them she demands it.

Next up was “Control followed by “Bells in Santa Fe”. Another crowd favorite from “Badlands” “Drive” with the perfect lyrics for the setting “And California never felt like home to me And California never felt like home And California never felt like home to me Until I had you on the open road and now we’re singing.” “Coming” down was followed by another and one of my personal favorites “You Should Be Sad”. “She then played a rocking version of “The Lighthouse”followed by “Strange Love”, “Haunting”. Halsey then went back to Badlands to where it all started “New Americana” and “Hurricane”. The set also included “Nightmare”, “Hold Me Down”, “Garden”, “Ghost”, “Roman Holiday”.

Halsey then played “Closer” by The Chainsmokers, which was also a crowd favorite. She then played a new classic from her latest album “Ego”, “Colors” “Ashley”, “People Disappear”, with a really cool. Next she played a new A new rocking version of “Without Me” followed by a really cool Badlands on 3D video. “Lonely is the Muse”, “Young God”closed out the set. Before the encore Halsey once again wanted her fans to take part in the show threatening to not do an encore if the crowed didn’t make some noise. The encore was from her 2nd album another classic “Bad at Love” where the screen flashed Send Loved. The show ended with a Acoustic Trouble, Tokyo Narita (freestyle) (Halsey & Lido song) Is There Somewhere. The show ended with fireworks. After 30 songs in 2 1/2 hours our trip back to Badlands ended. One thing is for sure I can’t wait to see what Halsey will do next.

For dates and tickets go to https://badlandstour.com and for all things Halsey go to https://www.iamhalsey.com.

For Halsey’s set lists go to: https://tinyurl.com/2y3tsnts

ALL PHOTOS: © Jonathan Scott Shensa Photography