Photos and a review of Lights and Softcult in Ottawa
[Zachary Resnick reviews and Melody Maloney provided the pictures. – AC]
The line formed around the block at the Bronson Music Theatre on Wednesday, March 18th, all for Light’s sold-out Ottawa stop on her COME GET YOUR GIRL TOUR.
The show was opened by the Toronto grunge/shoegaze prodigies Softcult. This was my first time seeing them live, but their brand of 90’s inspired riot grrrl energy is right up my alley. If you’re not sure what all of this means, know that Softcult sounds like a band that would be playing at the Bronze in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.
Some highlights from their volcanic set included the creeping and melancholic ‘Naïve’ from their recent album When a Flower Doesn’t Grow, which saw them lit in fiery orange lighting and featured inspired drums from Phoenix Arn-Horn.
With a shout of “Fuck ICE!” and a middle finger salute, vocalist and guitarist Mercedes Arn-Horn launched into the grungy and electric ‘Tired’ which whipped the pit into a frenzy.
‘Haunt You Still’ was another high point, with both Arn-Horn and lead guitarist Brent McSwiggan showing off their prowess.
Softcult closed out their set under blood-red lighting with the virulent ‘Spit It Out,’ leaving us all hyped and entertained, and me personally wondering when I’d get to see them live again.
After a quick break to re-set the stage (which somehow included an impromptu crowd sing-along to Backstreet Boys ‘I Want it That Way’) the main event was ready to begin.
Purple spotlights lit the backdrop as Don Henley’s ‘Boys of Summer’ played. As the last notes faded, a glowing blue light show began, and the backing band took their positions.
And then, there she was. Lights Valerie Anne Poxleitner-Bokan emerged to an ear-splitting pop and opened with the tour’s namesake, ‘COME GET YOUR GIRL.’
This was followed up immediately with a shatteringly energetic rendition of ‘River,’ and the crowd was already completely hooked.
There was the briefest of pauses before ‘Ghost Girl on First’ which now has the distinction of having the single loudest clap-along I’ve ever been part of. Without wasting a single breath, Lights continued the tour de force with the duo of ‘Running with the Boys’ and ‘Killing Me,’ each just a hair slower than the last.
Finally, a chance for our collective pulses to slow a bit as Lights took a quick break to chat with the audience and grab a hat from a fan – a hat that she herself had worn on a previous tour before gifting it away to the faithful admirer. A real full circle moment.
After that exchange, Lights and co. favoured us with an electric rendition of ‘Timing is Everything/Flux and Flow/We Were Here,’ descending into the pit to sing from amongst the crowd near the end.
Hot pink bulbs pulsed for dance-y renditions of Lights and Felix Cartal’s ‘Love Me,’ and the Lights x MYTH joint ‘Batshit.’
To slow things down (temporarily) once again a LED-lit gamer chair was wheeled onstage, so Lights could sing ‘FINAL ROUND’ to us from her throne. But it was the incredibly visceral, raw performance of ‘Piranha’ that was the showstopper for me.
Other highlights from the set include Lights solo performance of ‘Long Live,’ a provocative rendition of ‘Prodigal Daughter,’ a cover of Blink 182’s ‘All the Small Things,’ and the absolute thunder that was ‘Surface Tension.’
Lights closed out the set with the bittersweet ‘Alone Again,’ before re-emerging, keytar in hand, for an encore of ‘Up We Go’ and ‘EDUCATION.’
The symbiotic relationship between artist and audience was on full display that night. Lights gave her all, it was an incredible performance, and it was easy to tell she was feeding off the positive energy in the room. The COME GET YOUR GIRL TOUR only has a few stops left before she leaves for the UK in May, so get out there and be dazzled by the Lights.
