Concert Review: LIGHTS at Skully’s Music Diner 3/6/15
Electropop goddess LIGHTS, stopped by Columbus’ Skully’s Music Diner on March 6th to perform for a sold-out crowd. While it may have been one of the last US stops of her most recent tour, she was still at the top of her game as if the tour had only just begun.
Considering that I had never been to an electronic show before, I was a bit unsure of what to expect from LIGHTS. Compared to most shows that I’ve attended, LIGHTS’ performance felt more like a dance party, rather than an actual concert. From the first song, to the end of the encore, each person was on their feet dancing as if they were at a rave. The audience’s elated response to her performance of “Toes” set the tone for the remainder of the show, and her cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” ignited a full-blown sing-along with the entire crowd. As an artist with an incredibly large following, LIGHTS broke down the barriers between artist and audience, continuously jumping into the crowd to hold hands with her screaming fans. Throughout the concert, her stage banter felt more like she was talking to a group of her friends, rather than putting on a façade to impress her fans. Although the show didn’t feel like an upscale production, LIGHTS’ performance easily had the skill of an arena artist. Her vocals were superb, and somehow she managed to hit every note, all while doing what she called “thrash dancing.” It’s no surprise that Skully’s was sold-out, and I could imagine her easily packing the larger Columbus venues, such as the Newport Music Hall or the LC Pavilion. Despite this, I admire her choice in playing small club venues. It’s impossible to ignore the intimacy she had with the audience, and I don’t think a larger venue could’ve portrayed that same feeling.
For those who aren’t familiar with the electropop genre, I highly encourage you to take a listen to LIGHTS’ newest album, Little Machines, and attend one of her upcoming tour dates. She might be an electronic artist, but she has the energy of a full-fledged rock band, and the attitude of a punk musician, which made her performance at Skully’s unforgettable.
| DATE | LOCATION | VENUE |
| 03.11.2015 | Toronto, Ontario | Menchie's |
| 03.14.2015 | Hamilton, Ontario | Lime Ridge Mall |
| 03.15.2015 | Hamilton, Ontario | Hamilton Place |
| 03.15.2015 | Hamilton, Ontario | First Ontario Centre |
| 04.11.2015 | Indio, California | Coachella Festival |
| 04.14.2015 | Phoenix, Arizona | Marquee Theatre |
| 04.15.2015 | San Diego, California | The Irenic |
| 04.16.2015 | Sacramento, California | Ace of Spades |
| 04.18.2015 | Indio, California | Coachella Festival |
| 04.20.2015 | Montreal, Quebec | Bell Centre |
| 04.21.2015 | Ottawa, Ontario | Canadian Tire Centre |
| 04.22.2015 | London, Ontario | Budweiser Gardens |
| 04.24.2015 | Toronto, Ontario | Air Canada Centre |
| 04.25.2015 | Sudbury, Ontario | Sudbury Arena |
| 04.27.2015 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | MTS Centre |
| 04.29.2015 | Edmonton, Alberta | Rexall Place |
| 04.30.2015 | Calgary, Alberta | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| 05.02.2015 | Vancouver, British Columbia | Pepsi Live At Rogers Arena |
