Pop superstar Taylor Swift has played all over Western Pennsylvania, dating back to her first show here in 2006. She’s played a minor-league baseball stadium, a banquet hall in Burgettstown, Star Lake and Mellon Arena. And, of course, there’s been her four previous shows at Heinz Field, with two more coming up on June 16 and 17 at Acrisure Stadium.
Back in 2007, the then-17-year-old Swift headlined the Pepsi Cola Roadhouse in Burgettstown.
Sarah Marince, a teenager from Moon Township, opened the show along with Jake Owen. Marince is now a full-time voice-over artist based in Dallas, recording voice-overs from her home studio for companies like Eat’n Park, Coca-Cola, Walt Disney World, Invisalign and Peloton.
In a recent email interview, she shared her thoughts on what it was like to open for one of Swift’s early shows in the area:
Q: What stands out the most from opening for Taylor Swift back in 2007?
A: The one thing that stands out the most was meeting Taylor backstage before the show and being blown away by how kind she was. She was a young star on the rise and certainly didn’t need to take time to talk to the opening act …but she did! She asked me my name, a little bit about Pittsburgh and complimented me on my set. She even gave me a shoutout on stage during her set! She was very down to earth.
Q: How did you wind up with that opening gig?
A: I had performed quite a few times at the Roadhouse so they were familiar with my music. They wanted two young female artists that night and I fit the bill.
Q: Did you get to see any of her set? Remember any of the songs she played?
A: I remember sitting in the front row with my parents during her set. The house was packed! Lots of young girls with their moms — everyone knew all of the words to her songs. This was right after she released her first album and the audience went crazy when she played “Tim McGraw.”
Q: Was it a packed house?
A: The house was packed — not a single seat was empty.
Q: What kind of interactions did you have with her?
A: When we spoke backstage she was so gracious. We are the same age and talked a little bit about music, Nashville and boys.
Q: You must have been a teenager for that show. Did you see her as a peer? Or was she already a “star”?
A: Yes, in 2007 I was a junior in high school. Taylor had a pretty large MySpace following at the time and had just released her first album, so I did think of her as a star but being that we were the same age, she was very relatable and talked to me like a friend.
Q: In a Pittsburgh Magazine story about you, you recounted: “She was telling me not to date — that boys were trouble.” What did you think of that advice then? Looking back now, does that seem prophetic for a lot of her future songs?
A: She did give me that advice, and it’s probably the same advice I’ll give my daughter. At the time I definitely took her advice … I focused on music and didn’t date for a while.
Q: Could you tell then that she was destined for greater things?
A: Absolutely. From the start you could tell Taylor Swift was going to be a star. She knows how to command the stage, how to interact with her fans and how to write incredible music — that was very clear back in 2007 when it was just a room full of 100 people at The Roadhouse.
Q: Is there anything else from that day that I’ve forgotten/you’d like to mention?
A: I always loved performing at the Pepsi Cola Roadhouse. I’m so glad I had the chance to open the day Taylor came through. I will always remember it!
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Here’s a look at all 11 times Swift has played the Pittsburgh area in the past:
Aug. 7, 2018, at Heinz Field
Swift packed Heinz Field as part of her Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018, playing for two hours, with opening acts Camila Cabello and Charli XCX.
Read more: Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ fills Heinz Field
June 6, 2015, at Heinz Field
Swift’s third stadium show in Pittsburgh came as part of the 1989 World Tour, with opening acts Vance Joy and Shawn Mendes.
Read more: Taylor Swift connects with Heinz Field crowd during 1989 World Tour stop
July 6, 2013, at Heinz Field
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The Red Tour brought the 23-year-old Swift back to Heinz Field, with Ed Sheeran, Austin Mahone, Jesse McCartney and Joel Crouse as openers.
Read more: Swift’s star power undeniable in Red Tour stop at Heinz Field
June 18, 2011, at Heinz Field
Swift headlined her first stadium show in Pittsburgh as part of the Speak Now World Tour, with Needtobreathe, Randy Montana and Danny Gokey opening the show.
Read more: Sparks fly in Taylor Swift concert at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field
Oct. 1, 2009, at Mellon Arena
The 2009 Fearless Tour brought Swift to Pittsburgh for her first headlining arena show, with Gloriana and Kellie Pickler opening. At one point, she rocked a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey given to her before the show by Max Talbot, Jordan Staal, Alex Goligoski and Tyler Kennedy. The show had originally been set for Petersen Events Center before being moved because of ticket demand.
Read more: Taylor Swift treats arena crowd to both country and pop
Aug. 30, 2008, at Post-Gazette Pavilion
Swift’s opening set had the crowd singing along as she opened for Rascal Flatts in a sold-out show at the Post-Gazette Pavilion in Burgettstown.
Read more: New, young country star Taylor Swift-ly steals show from Rascal Flatts
Sept. 15, 2007, at Post-Gazette Pavilion
Swift, whose self-titled album had been certified gold at this time on the strength of single, “Tim McGraw,” opened for Brad Paisley at the Post-Gazette Pavilion.
July 17, 2007, at Mellon Arena
Swift made her third stop of the year in Pittsburgh, this time opening for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill at Mellon Arena.
April 15, 2007 at Pepsi-Cola Roadhouse in Burgettstown
Swift headlined the 1,000-seat Pepsi-Cola Roadhouse with Jake Owen and Moon Township’s Sarah Marince opening.
Feb. 16, 2007, at Mellon Arena
Swift made the first of four stops in the Pittsburgh area in 2007, opening for George Strait and Ronnie Milsap at Mellon Arena.
Sept. 23, 2006, at Falconi Field in Washington, Pa.
Swift’s Western Pennsylvania area debut came at Falconi Field (now Wild Things Park) in Washington, opening for Lonestar, Diamond Rio and the Povertyneck Hillbillies. At the time, her single “Tim McGraw” had received local radio airplay here.
Related:
• Dead & Company fans rant on social media about traffic at Star Lake
• Taylor Swift, Paramore, Hardy among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in June
• Pittsburgh area concert calendar
Mike Palm is a Tribune-Review digital producer. You can contact Mike at 412-380-5674 or mpalm@triblive.com.