Canadian electropop artist Lights has enthusiastic fans dancing and singing all night long on her COME GET YOUR GIRL Tour with support from Softcult.
Canadian duo Softcult kicks off the show with a set of alternative rock songs with some splashes of shoegaze and punk. Comprised of sisters Phoenix Arn-Horn (vocals, drums) and Mercedes Arn-Horn (lead vocals, guitars), and joined by a second guitarist and a bassist, they plow through an 11-song set. They pull songs from their singles, several EPs, and their recent album. They start off on the slower side with “Drain” and then start ramping it up with several songs, including “Pill to Swallow” and “Naïve” from their album When a Flower Doesn’t Grow. The vocals are soft, with an airy feel, but are often soaring. The guitars are distorted, while the drums are solid with increased tempos and cymbal crashes at times. “Tired” gets the crowd moving with its more punk-like delivery and speed, and “16/25” keeps it going with fast beats and ringing guitar. After “I Held You Like a Glass” and “Not Sorry,” they dive into some older songs, starting with “Love Song,” which has a great jam at the end, and “Take It Off.” During “Haunt You Still,” Mercedes jumps about the stage and thrashes her hair around. They finish their set with “Spit It Out.” The crowd shows their appreciation with cheers and applause.
Headliner Lights is welcomed with loud cheers as she takes the stage. She kicks it off with “COME GET YOUR GIRL.” Her set is long, with almost half of it comprised of songs from her latest album A6, but she brings the hits from across her whole discography. Not one to stand still for long, she dances and spins across the stage while also playing guitar and playing up to the fans. After “River” and “GHOST GIRL ON FIRST,” long-time fan favorite and setlist staple “Running With the Boys” gets the fans bouncing, dancing, and singing along. She spreads out the new songs throughout the set and mixes up the pace, although, for the most part, it is upbeat.Many of the fans have been following her from the beginning based on a question Lights poses. They respond to every song by singing along, bouncing, and waving their arms. Lights has a way of connecting with the fans by encouraging them to sing parts of songs and clap overhead. During part of the medley comprised of “Timing Is Everything,” “Flux and Flow,” and “We Were Here,” she takes to the pit and gets close to the fans in the front row, and then climbs over the barrier to join the fans on the floor. They love it.
After “Love Me” and “Batshit,” she sits in a chair illuminated in green along with “A6” in orange, and belts out “FINAL ROUND.” “PIRANHA” once again has the fans singing along, and she has some fun with the fans during “LEARNING TO LET GO” by launching some paper airplanes into the crowd. Some highlights of the set are “DAMAGE” and the infectious “Okay Okay,” which both have the fans going wild. She even throws in a cover of the Taking Back Sunday classic “Cute Without the E,” which fans sing along to. She winds it down with “SURFACE TENSION” and “Almost Had Me,” with the latter really showing off her vocal talent. The lively “ALIVE AGAIN” has the fans in a frenzy again as the floor looks like one big bouncing and waving mass.
The band returns to the stage and plays the big fan favorite “Up We Go.” Lights has the fans alternating singing parts of the songs. They finish it off with “EDUCATION,” during which Lights encourages people to get on others’ shoulders on the floor, and gets everyone clapping overhead. Such a great evening of fun music. Lights continues to evolve her sound and gets better with every release, and her live shows never disappoint. Be sure to catch her on this tour.
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