Lights Brings (A)LIVE AGAIN to Life in Vancouver

May 9, 2025 @ Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC

After kicking off her (A)LIVE AGAIN tour in Victoria earlier this week, Lights touched down at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom for a hometown-adjacent show that felt both celebratory and intimate. Supporting her sixth studio album, A6, released just a week prior, the Canadian pop-electronic mainstay delivered a dynamic, emotionally charged set that pulled from across her 15-year discography while spotlighting the reflective spirit of her latest work.

Opening the night was rising alt-pop artist King Mala, who set the tone perfectly with her confident stage presence and genre-blurring sound. She worked through a set that mixed jazzy undertones with bold indie-rock energy (think if Billie Eilish and Hozier had a garage band together). It was a fitting match: both King Mala and Lights share a knack for pairing emotional depth with undeniable hooks, and by the time her set wrapped, she’d more than earned her spot as a name to watch.

Opening with “Day Two,” Lights immediately grounded the night in the A6 era, setting the tone with synth shimmer. From there, she wasted no time diving into the punchy vulnerability of “Damage,” which hit even harder live. The crowd, a mix of Gen Z devotees and millennial lifers, seemed to already know every word.

While the (A)LIVE AGAIN tour is rooted in her new material, Lights made space to honour her earlier eras. The three-song medley of “Saviour,” “Drive,” and “Second Go” served as a time machine for OG fans, complete with glowing lights and airy vocals that reminded everyone why they fell for her in the first place.

The production was relatively minimalist by pop standards with clever lighting, and a tight band, but that stripped-down approach only enhanced the impact of the music. Tracks like “White Paper Palm Trees” and “Siberia” showcased the balance Lights has struck over the years between introspective songwriting and glimmering, danceable beats.

“Ghost Girl On First” was a stood-out moment. She described the song as “Midwest emo” which fits perfectly. “Pretend” and “Up We Go,” performed solo with just a guitar, were heartstring-tugging highlights that let her raw vocals take centre stage. “Ghost Girl On First” was a stood-out moment. She described the song as “Midwest emo” which fits perfectly.

Mid-set, Lights leaned back into of A6 with “Surface Tension.” But she kept the energy fluid. Just as things risked dipping into introspective territory for too long, she snapped back with “Clingy” and the high-octane “Speeding,” re-igniting the room.

By the time she launched into “Piranha,” “Grip” and “Love Me,” the floor of the Commodore was moving like a sea of bodies. She closed with “Alive Again,” a cathartic and defiant anthem that perfectly encapsulated the spirit of both the album and the show.

Lights didn’t reinvent her live show with (A)LIVE AGAIN, but she didn’t have to. Instead, she brought everything full circle, melding eras, and sounds into a cohesive, satisfying whole. On stage, A6 came alive in a way that felt like a true return to herself.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

Photo Credit: Aly Mae