Katy Perry’s “The Lifetimes Tour” hit San Francisco’s Chase Center on Friday night with an over-the-top mix of high-energy theatrics, devoted fans of all ages, and one particular moment that nearly stole the show—quite literally.
Rebecca Black kicked the party off promptly at 8:00 PM and Friday night into high gear with her 30-minute set. Dwarfed by the massive stage setup, Black kept things upbeat with a pair of backup dancers that helped keep the energy high and the crowd moving.
The lead up to Perry’s slightly-delayed set found the diverse crowd entertaining themselves by doing “the wave,” cheering for the fans who made it onto the big screen (thankfully no obvious Coldplay incidents) and appreciating the sheer magnitude of the ambitious production that was soon to unfold. The stage was backed by massive digital monitors, and the general admission floor was consumed by an infinity-shaped catwalk with the inside areas packed with eager fans, many in costume or holding signs to vie for Ms. Perry’s attention.
The room erupted with cheers when the lights finally dimmed, the intro video played, and Katy was eventually hoisted from the middle of the figure eight stage as a clad half-human, half-cyborg hero a la C3PO and launched into “Artificial” from her 2024 release, 143. After being lowered back through the stage, she emerged on the mainstage to join her raft of dancers for “Chained to the Rhythm.”
The undeniably ambitious production was broken into several acts which included a thoughtfully curated setlist which spanned deep cuts (“Artificial,” “Teary Eyes”) early on and eased into platinum-certified favorites like “Dark Horse,” “California Gurls,” and “Teenage Dream,” keeping both die‑hard “Katycats” as well as the casual fans rapt.
The infinity stage provided Perry with a unique opportunity to engage more broadly with her fans in the massive arena. The “Choose Your Own Adventure” section of the set gave fans the opportunity to pick a song. This and other direct fan engagements really made the concert feel like it was tailored for the San Francisco audience.
The most memorable moment of the 2-hour performance came late in the set as Katy flew through the arena on a giant butterfly during “Roar” only to have a hiccup in the rigging suddenly drop her a few feet. Impressively, she regained her composure quickly to finish the song and leave the Chase Center with the quote of the night: “Not today, Satan.”
Dismissing any controversy surrounding Perry’s recent space adventure, the Katy Perry fans showed up in force to see their iconic hero. And while the storyline was at times muddy, Katy delivered something memorable: a fantasy mega-show with a real‑time twist.
REBECCA BLACK
