Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Leaves Fans Feeling Post

In a post on Instagram, podcaster Tay Lautner and her husband, Twilight actor Taylor Lautner, opened up about the “post Taylor Swift show depression” they have been experiencing since seeing Swift live. “Is that real?” Taylor asked his wife in an Instagram video, to which she replied “Absolutely,” adding “When one show isn’t enough…”

The Lautners posted photos and videos showing them dancing and enjoying the concert. At one point they slow-danced together as Swift sang “Midnight Rain.” This wasn’t their first Swift concert together – back in July they were special guests at her show in Kansas City. Taylor Lautner even appeared on stage alongside Swift to help debut her “I Can See You” music video, in which he stars.

Swift and Lautner briefly dated back in 2009, during which time she wrote the song “Back to December” about him. Addressing the Kansas City crowd, Swift praised Lautner as “a very positive force in my life when I was making the Speak Now album.” She went on to say, “He and his wife have become some of my closest friends, and it’s very convenient because we all share the same first name.”

In response, Lautner told Swift, “I respect you so much. Not just for the singer you are, the songwriter, the performer, but for the human you are. You are gracious, humble, kind and I am honored to know you.”

The Lautners are far from the only fans feeling down now that the first leg of Swift’s Eras tour is over. The tour was Swift’s first since 2018 and her first since releasing her 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore. It spanned 52 shows over 6 months in stadiums across the U.S.

The Eras tour has broken numerous records, including becoming the highest-grossing tour in U.S. history. It brought in $473 million just from its first leg, selling over 2 million tickets. The tour was Swift’s first time performing songs like “Cardigan” and “Willow” live. She also delighted fans by bringing back older hits and deep cuts from her catalog.

Each show was filled with elaborate production, numerous costume changes, surprise guest appearances, and hits spanning Swift’s 20-year career. Setlists varied night to night, with Swift rotating through different mashups, rarities, remixes and decades of her discography.

Now that the tour is on hiatus until its international leg next year, fans have been flocking to social media to express their “post-concert depression.” Many are reminiscing about their concert experiences and mourning the end of the dazzling, euphoric shows.

Fans describe feeling emotional after what many call a “religious experience” of seeing their idol live. Experts liken this to a chemical comedown after the dopamine high of anticipation leading up to the event. Psychologists also note concerts’ ability to create a sense of community and togetherness.

Swift has talked about her own post-tour blues in the past, describing the experience as going “from performing for thousands of people every night to absolute nothingness.” After pouring her heart into creating such an ambitious tour, it’s unsurprising she feels the effects of its absence.

While the Eras Tour first leg may be over, Swift promised more shows to come when announcing the tour last year. The tour will pick up again in 2023 with dates across Europe and elsewhere. This means fans wrestling with post-concert depression still have more live Taylor to look forward to next year.