Regina Spektor • August 1, 2025 • Sandy Amphitheater
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
August concerts started off on a good note with Regina Spektor bringing her Midsummer Daydream Tour to Sandy Amphitheater. It was a hot August night, as you might expect. But that didn’t stop fans from filling the amphitheater. Utah seems to really love Regina and her music. I’m glad she keeps coming back. And judging by the size of the crowd, she’ll always have a fanbase here.
There seemed to be a delay in the show’s start time. We were initially told that the show would start right at 8. But Spektor didn’t take the stage until 8:30. There was a little bit of tension in the air. Not due to the delay, but there was a noticeable increase in security. In July, Regina was unfortunately heckled in Portland by a pro-Palestine protester. While opinions on this matter are definitely up for debate, and feelings in their right setting should be heard, I don’t know that a concert was the place for that to happen. Once Regina Spektor took the stage, nerves seemed to be calmed, and all attention was on her and her music.
Regina Spektor walked on stage by herself to a loud ovation. She told us that she dressed like the salt flats. She opened the show singing “Shalom Aleichem”, a traditional song and prayer that captivated the audience. You could almost hear people breathing; it was so quiet. It was a brave and powerful way to open the show. She quickly turned the show more towards her quirky self, moving to the piano and singing, “Folding Chair.” As I moved along the concourse, taking photos, I enjoyed seeing her become more and more comfortable on stage as each smile grew throughout the audience.
It was amazing to see an artist up there alone on the stage, filling the amphitheater with their music. It seems like there would be so much pressure to be the only one out there. But Regina seemed to be at ease interacting with the crowd and hitting the big notes in her songs. As the sun went down and the venue became darker, the show began to feel more intimate. The audience seemed to love “Aprés moi.” There were various woos throughout the song. But for the most part, as it was with many songs, the audience was totally captivated by the performance. It’s an awesome thing to see thousands of people gather together and stay silent for a performance.
As the show was nearing its end, we were treated to some of Spektor’s best songs. “On the Radio” and “Two Birds” were personal favorites. And I could tell I wasn’t the only one exited about those songs. Speaking of excitement. The main set ended with a universal favorite, “Fidelity.” I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing that song live. Regina sounds so good performing it.
When Regina Spektor returned for her encore, she shared with us, “I’m having a very special treat on the road. Because my favorite husband came to visit me.” The crowd roared as musician Jack Dishel joined Regina on stage to perform “Hotel Room.” He beat-boxed as she stood next to him, singing. The song ended with them singing in harmony as the audience rose to their feet. It was a great surprise.
The night ended with “Samson.” So many people in the audience couldn’t help but sing along. It’s a beautiful song and felt like a great way to end the evening. I wouldn’t be surprised if Regina Spektor not only came back to Utah again soon, but I think Sandy Amphitheater is a great fit. I hope to see her back on that Sandy stage next time she heads on tour.