Review: Liz Stokes / Photos: Neal Nachman
Katy Perry has always been a pop star larger than life. From the moment she burst onto the scene with I Kissed a Girl in 2008, she has built a reputation as one of the most colorful, theatrical, and magnetic performers in the industry. Her Lifetime Tour—a career-spanning production that feels both like a victory lap and a heartfelt thank-you to her fans—is nothing short of a monumental achievement. Packed with hits, dazzling visuals, deeply personal storytelling, and Perry’s trademark sense of humor, the show reaffirms her place as one of pop music’s most enduring icons.
The Lifetime Tour stop at Benchmark International Arena was aptly named. It’s a concert that not only traces Perry’s career trajectory but also embodies the larger-than-life imagination she has always brought to her work. From the moment the curtain rose, audiences inside the sold-out venue were transported into a kaleidoscope of sound and vision. A giant LED backdrop bloomed with psychedelic visuals, opening on a fantasy world that seemed plucked from Perry’s most whimsical music videos. She emerged in a sparkling gown, shaped like a shooting star, and immediately launched into Firework. The choice to open with her most inspirational anthem set the tone for the evening: a celebration of resilience, joy, and unity.
Before Perry took the stage, however, the night began with an equally intriguing performance from Rebecca Black, who served as the opening artist. Best known for her viral breakout with Friday in 2011, Black has since reinvented herself as a confident, experimental pop artist. Her set at Benchmark International Arena was short but impactful, and it showcased just how far she has come since those early internet-driven days. With slick production, sharp choreography, and a charismatic stage presence, Black quickly won over the crowd.
Her setlist blended tracks from her more recent projects with clever nods to her past. Songs like Girlfriend and Personal pulsed with synth-heavy beats and a darker pop edge, displaying Black’s growth as an artist who is unafraid to push creative boundaries. Her vocal delivery was strong, and her connection to the audience felt genuine as she thanked fans for embracing her evolution. The biggest surprise of her set, of course, came when she performed Friday. Rather than leaning into nostalgia as a gimmick, she delivered it with a tongue-in-cheek confidence, backed by thumping bass and reimagined production that gave the once-mocked track new life. The crowd roared in approval, singing along with smiles and laughter. It was a moment of reclamation, showing that Black had fully taken ownership of her narrative.
Black’s performance was also notable for its energy. With a smaller stage setup compared to Perry’s grand production, she relied on choreography and crowd engagement to keep the momentum alive, and she succeeded. Her dancers brought an infectious energy, and her playful banter with the audience helped warm up the arena. By the time she closed her set with the futuristic anthem Crumbs, the crowd was buzzing, fully primed for the headliner. In many ways, Black’s presence on the tour felt symbolic—a story of reinvention and resilience that paralleled Perry’s own themes of growth and transformation.
When Katy Perry finally took the stage, the energy in Benchmark International Arena hit a fever pitch. The show’s structure unfolded like a theatrical journey. Divided into four acts—The Dreamer, The Rebel, The Romantic, and The Phoenix—each segment highlighted a different facet of Perry’s artistry. In The Dreamer, she revisited the playful, candy-coated world of her Teenage Dream era. With oversized lollipops, neon-colored costumes, and dancers dressed as cartoonish confections, the stage transformed into a living version of her legendary California Gurls video. Perry delivered Teenage Dream, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), and Waking Up in Vegas with boundless energy, her vocals crisp and her charisma undeniable. The crowd, many of whom grew up with these hits, sang every word in unison.
What makes Perry unique is her ability to mix whimsy with sincerity. After a glittering rendition of Wide Awake, she paused to reflect on her journey, sharing with the audience how the song was written during a time of personal struggle. The vulnerability contrasted beautifully with the bright visuals, proving that beneath the theatrics is a performer with genuine emotional depth. This balance between spectacle and intimacy is the heartbeat of the Lifetime Tour.
The second act, The Rebel, leaned into Perry’s edgier side. Dressed in a flame-embroidered bodysuit, she tore through Hot N Cold, E.T., and Part of Me with a fierce intensity. The staging here was darker and more futuristic, featuring metallic set pieces and laser-like lighting that evoked the atmosphere of a sci-fi battle. Perry’s dancers, clad in robotic armor, mirrored her defiant energy as she powered through the setlist. The highlight was Roar, performed atop a massive golden lion prop that prowled across the Benchmark International Arena stage. The visual spectacle drew gasps from the audience, cementing the number as one of the most memorable of the night.
But Perry’s shows are never just about spectacle—they are also about connection. Between songs, she spoke candidly with the audience, sharing stories from her career, cracking jokes, and even pulling a fan onstage for a playful singalong of I Kissed a Girl. These moments reminded the crowd why Perry has cultivated such loyalty over the years: she never puts herself above her fans, but rather, invites them into her world.
Act three, The Romantic, shifted gears into a softer, more reflective atmosphere. With a stage bathed in pastel tones and a backdrop resembling a starlit night sky, Perry slowed things down for ballads like Unconditionally, Thinking of You, and The One That Got Away. Her vocals here shone brightest—warm, emotional, and controlled, carrying the weight of nostalgia and heartbreak. Particularly poignant was her performance of By the Grace of God, accompanied only by a piano. The silence in Benchmark International Arena was palpable as Perry’s voice soared, a raw reminder of her resilience and vulnerability. It was perhaps the emotional centerpiece of the show.
Of course, Perry never lingers in melancholy for too long. As The Phoenix act began, the energy shifted back to high-octane spectacle. Emerging from the stage in a blazing red outfit, surrounded by pyrotechnics and cascading flames, she launched into Dark Horse with commanding authority. This final act was all about rebirth and triumph. Songs like Never Really Over and Chained to the Rhythm showcased her more recent catalog, proving that her artistry has continued to evolve while remaining true to her core. The dancers’ choreography became more athletic and daring, with aerial stunts and acrobatics that added a sense of grandeur to the performance.
The climax of the show came, fittingly, with Firework—reprised as the closing number, this time accompanied by a jaw-dropping display of actual fireworks erupting inside Benchmark International Arena. As confetti rained down and the crowd raised their voices in unison, it felt less like a concert and more like a communal celebration. Perry, standing at center stage with her arms outstretched, looked visibly emotional, soaking in the love of the audience. It was the perfect ending to a show designed to be both spectacular and personal, a culmination of her career’s greatest triumphs.
Production-wise, the Lifetime Tour is a marvel. Every detail, from the elaborate costumes to the cutting-edge visuals, was meticulously designed to create an immersive experience. The lighting design was especially impressive, shifting seamlessly between the candy-colored brightness of her early hits and the darker, more dramatic tones of her later material. The sound mix was equally strong, allowing Perry’s vocals to shine without being drowned out by the booming instrumentals. What stood out most, however, was how the show used these elements to tell a story. Rather than feeling like a random collection of hits, the concert had a narrative arc that mirrored Perry’s own artistic evolution.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the night was how it bridged generations of fans. Children danced joyfully during the candy-coated numbers, millennials reminisced over their high school anthems, and older fans marveled at the sheer spectacle of it all. Perry has always thrived on inclusivity, and the Lifetime Tour embodies this ethos perfectly. At Benchmark International Arena, the show felt like a safe space where joy, self-expression, and togetherness were celebrated.
Ultimately, Katy Perry’s Lifetime Tour is not just a concert—it’s an experience. It’s a journey through her career, a showcase of her artistry, and a testament to her enduring bond with fans. Opening artist Rebecca Black set the tone perfectly with her own story of reinvention and resilience, and Perry built upon that foundation with a show that was equal parts theatrical, heartfelt, and triumphant. Few artists could pull off a production of this scale while still making it feel intimate, but Perry manages it effortlessly.
In an era where pop stars often come and go, Perry’s ability to reinvent herself while staying true to her core values is remarkable. The Lifetime Tour isn’t just a celebration of past hits—it’s a statement of her continued relevance and a promise that her story is far from over. For fans, it’s an unforgettable night of music, nostalgia, and inspiration. For Perry herself, it’s a triumphant reminder that her place in the pop pantheon has been earned not just through chart-topping singles, but through her unshakable connection with the people who have followed her every step of the way.
At its heart, the Lifetime Tour stop at Benchmark International Arena is exactly what its name suggests: the concert of a lifetime.
