Concerts Reviews
Katy Perry Brought Her Dystopian, A.I. & Acrobatics Lifetimes Tour To Ottawa
Last Tuesday, global popstar Katy Perry brought her Lifetimes Tour to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
The night started with Rebecca Black, in her pop-disrupting, techno-pop DJ era. Black’s performance radiated confidence and flair, flanked by two dancers who didn’t miss a beat. With a bold, electronic pop sound full of synths and style, Rebecca Black is gaining serious traction, landing spots on The Lifetimes Tour and hitting the festival circuit with growing momentum. It is clear that Rebecca Black is back.
That said, part of the crowd was quietly hoping for a surprise performance of “Friday,” the viral hit that first launched her into the spotlight. She didn’t play it, and while that’s totally fair (she’s been working hard to move past that era), there was still a tiny pang of nostalgia left hanging in the air.
Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour is less a traditional concert and more a full-blown sensory experience, equal parts pop showcase, sci-fi fantasy, and immersive art installation. Designed like a virtual reality video game with a storyline to match, the show takes the fans on a dazzling, five-act journey through a futuristic digital dreamscape where Perry, playing a chrome-clad android named KP147, battles an evil force known as the Mainframe with the help of her feline sidekick, Kittybot.
The concert opened with Act 1: Artificial, as Perry rose from the centre of a glowing, infinity stage in cybernetic armour. Songs like “Chained to the Rhythm” and “Dark Horse” hit hard from the start, their performance matched by a striking visual overload of digital chaos, robotic dancers, and sci-fi theatrics. The crowd was immediately pulled into her stylized world, mixing satire, social commentary, and pure pop fantasy.
Act 2: Woman’s World brought a shift into upbeat anthems and iconic throwbacks, with fans belting out every lyric as if no time had passed since Perry first topped the charts. Songs like “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream” remained iconic and were a joy to see live. The production pulled no punches with pyrotechnics, shimmering LED bodysuits, and tightly synced choreography lighting up the stage.
In Act 3: Nirvana, the mood deepened. The visuals turned dreamlike, almost hallucinogenic, with darker lighting and surreal stage design complementing a more introspective musical tone. At one point, Perry was suspended from the ceiling, performing aerial stunts that felt straight out of Cirque du Soleil. “Wide Awake” stood out, drawing the crowd into a quieter, more reflective space before transitioning into Act 3.5: Choose Your Own Adventure.
Act 3.5 was a moment that made the arena feel smaller in the best way. A giant QR code popped up, prompting fans to vote on what she’d sing next. This wasn’t just a gimmick, Perry truly handed control over, and the vibe shifted into something looser, funnier, and more personal. She invited a group of kids to join her on stage, handed out shakers, and asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. It felt genuine, with no teleprompter in sight. Meanwhile, fans in full costume (yes, cupcake bras and “Roar” jungle looks included) screamed out song requests. One bold fan even asked for “Peacock.” She did treat the audience to fan-voted tracks like “Not Like the Movies” and “The One That Got Away,” with her mini “band” of kids playing along. She riffed, joked, and sang snippets of deep cuts as they were shouted at her. It was chaotic in the best way, and easily the most unpredictable, endearing part of the show.
The tempo kicked back up in Act 4: Mainframe, a glitchy, high-energy section filled with distorted visuals, flashing pixel art, and electronic motifs. Perry performed her 2011 hit “E.T.” while battling a swarm of alien creatures on stage, plus one oversized, worm-like HVAC tube, all while wielding a red, double-bladed lightsaber straight out of a Star Wars fever dream. She belted out defiant, high-octane tracks with ease. Her vocals stayed strong, even amid the acrobatics. The entire sequence felt like the climax of a cyberpunk blockbuster.
The final act, End Game, lived up to its name. Perry emerged triumphantly to perform “Roar” while soaring above the crowd on a giant mechanical butterfly. A bold nod to her near mishap in San Francisco that, in Ottawa, flew flawlessly. She closed the night with “Firework,” as confetti explosions lit up the arena and fans sang at full volume, ending the night on a euphoric high.
Ultimately, the Lifetimes Tour was a reminder of Katy Perry’s singular vision and her ongoing evolution as an artist, despite all he noise around her life and career on social media. Equal parts concert, video game, and space opera, it served as a love letter to her fans.
Upcoming Lifetimes Tour dates:
7/30 Montréal, QC Bell Centre
8/1 Québec City, QC Centre Videotron
8/3 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
8/5 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
8/6 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
8/8 Boston, MA TD Garden
8/9 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
8/11 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
8/14 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
8/15 Baltimore, MD CFG Bank Arena
8/17 Raleigh, NC Lenovo Center
8/19 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
8/20 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena
8/22 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
8/23 Miami, FL Kaseya Center
More info here.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
KATY PERRY
REBECCA BLACK
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Goldfinger Keep the Pit Moving and the Shoes Flying in Vancouver
On April 17th, the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver felt like a ska-punk time warp, with California punk legends Goldfinger supporting their new album, Nine Lives.
Sullvn got things rolling with a set that didn’t waste any time. Within minutes, hats were flying into the crowd like it was a merch-based game show, and the vibe quickly turned into organized chaos. They brought to the stage Dicky Barrett, former frontman of Mighty Mighty Bosstones for their hit “Raise a Glass”.
Next up was Broadway Calls, proving once again that a three-piece can absolutely shake a room. Their brand of fast, hooky punk tore through the crowd, with songs like “Call It Off” and “Back to Oregon” landing like instant jolts of energy. By the time they wrapped, the room was fully ready for Goldfinger.
Right away, frontman John Feldmann started doing crowd math. “How many of you are under 20?” A few scattered hands. “Over 40?” A lot more hands. He laughed and proudly stated that to still be doing this 32 years later as the best feeling in the world. This wasn’t a band clinging to nostalgia… but they also weren’t about to ignore it.
From there, it turned into the kind of chaos Goldfinger shows are known for, a non-stop blur of songs, crowd surfers, and, of course, the sacred tradition of shoes flying through the air. Somewhere along the way, footwear stopped being optional and started being part of the performance. Pairs were held up like trophies, launched across the room, or lost to the pit entirely. If you managed to leave with both shoes still accounted for, honestly, that’s a personal victory. The setlist leaned into exactly what people wanted. “Here in Your Bedroom,” “Chasing Amy” “Counting the Days”, all the hits, all loud, all sung back at the band like it was a group project. The floor barely stayed still for more than a few seconds, and the security team definitely got their steps in from the steady stream of crowd surfers.
During “Mable,” they pulled fans up on stage to dance, turning the whole thing into a slightly chaotic, very wholesome party. And then… “Superman.” The reaction was instant. Like, no hesitation, full-body nostalgia. The second it started, it felt like half the room got mentally transported back to playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in their living rooms. Suddenly, everyone knew every word (even the ones they probably didn’t know they knew), and the energy somehow went up another level. It wasn’t just a highlight, it was the moment.
When it wrapped at the Commodore Ballroom, the place was wrecked in the best way – sweaty, shoeless, and buzzing. Still, no one seemed in any hurry to leave.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
GOLDFINGER
BROADWAY CALLS
SULLVN
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Face to Face with Sevendust in Riverside, Iowa
For close to thirty years, Hard Rock’s Sevendust has graced hundreds of stages all over the world, playing sell-out shows to rabid fans. The band, fronted by LaJon Witherspoon, has been recognized for its soulful vocals, hard-hitting riffs from Clint Lowery and John Connolly, thumping bass from Vince Hornsby, and monstrous drum sounds and screams from Morgan Rose. Riverside, Iowa was treated to the full Sevendust experience on Friday night.
The Riverside Casino Event Center has played host to events ranging from poker tournaments to keynote speakers, but on Friday it served as the setting for an amazing night of rock. The show started off with Iowa City–local band NonGrata. NonGrata has become very well known in the Eastern Iowa music scene, having opened for bands like Alien Ant Farm, Norma Jean, Archers, and will be opening for DED this summer. Blending groovy guitars with crisp clean vocals and harsh screams, the band delivers a sound that makes you want to jump out of your seat and stage dive. Although Sevendust was the main attraction on Friday night, everyone enjoyed NonGrata. They were a great choice to open the show and get people excited before Sevendust took the stage. NonGrata will be playing shows in Eastern Iowa throughout the year, and Midwest locals should take the chance to see a new band.
After an hour pre-show delay due to the weather, fans were itching to get out of their seats as anticipation for Sevendust taking the stage rose. Riverside was the second show of the One Tour, but there was no sign of early tour woes as the band broke right into Home. The 1999 track off the album of the same name was a great opener, carrying a hint of nostalgia and a whole lot of feeling. Witherspoon made an early effort to cross from side to side, ensuring every fan had the opportunity to interact with him. Stage presence is always among the highlights of a Sevendust show. Fans know they are going to get two things when they go to a Sevendust show: amazing music and plenty of interaction. The great music kept rolling as the second track of the night was a crowd favorite, Denial. The band was joined by hundreds of backup singers who knew every word, creating an ambiance that added essential energy to the environment.
The band seemed emotional in response to how well they were received by the Riverside crowd. After spending significant time in Europe to start the year, Sevendust said it was good to be home. Because these were among the first U.S. shows of the year, American fans had not yet had the opportunity to hear songs from the band’s upcoming album, One, live. The first chance came with the third song of the night, Is This the Real You. Although the Riverside crowd had never heard the song live, that did not stop them from singing along. Sevendust also played two other new tracks from the forthcoming album, Unbreakable and Threshold. Both sounded great live, and anticipation for the new album is high. Based on the reactions to the new material, the album will likely be well received when it comes out in two weeks on May 1.
The focus on new music did not stop Sevendust from breaking into its classics. The setlist was full of songs a Sevendust show would be incomplete without; Praise, Enemy, Waffle, and Black all had their place in the night. It truly was the complete Sevendust experience. The night could not end, however, without an encore of Rumble Fish and Face to Face. Even though the crowd was treated to a 15-song main set and a two-song encore, they still yearned for more. Unfortunately, all good shows must come to an end, but with 25 dates left on the One Tour, there will be plenty of opportunities to see Sevendust again this year.
One comes out May 1.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming tour dates:
4/20 – Indianapolis, IN
4/21 – Lexington, KY
4/22 – Birmingham, AL
4/24 – Mobile, AL
4/25 – Destin, FL
4/26 – Atlanta, GA (supporting Alter Bridge)
4/28 – Dallas, TX
4/29 – Oklahoma City, OK
More information on the band’s website.
SEVENDUST
NONGRATA
All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger