On The Prismatic Tour, Katy Perry is fierce. From the moment she enters the stage as a warrior, it’s clear that the pop princess is growing up.
Borrowing choreography from Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour, Katy jumps rope during Roar, just as Madonna did during Jump. Katy ups the ante by doing this in heels, whereas Madonna skipped in sneakers. It seems Katy is a big fan of Madonna, as she proudly incorporates a verse of Madonna’s Vogue into International Smile.
“The Prismatic World Tour is coming to light up some of my favorite North American cities this summer, as well as some new cities that you introduced me to through your video requests,” said Katy. “This colorful show will bring you all the songs you know as well as ones from my new album, PRISM.” Colourful would be an understatement though. Last time I saw Katy Perry, there were inflatable beach balls tossed around and “colourful” barely begins to describe her wardrobe.
Katy Perry’s coming back to Toronto this summer, so you can bet there will be thousands of fans roaring with excitement at the Air Canada Centre in July. Opening acts will include Capital Cities, Kacey Musgraves and Tegan and Sara, although unfortunately my favourite twins (aside from Mary-Kate & Ashley) will not be joining Katy in Toronto. Instead, local Katycats can watch Capital Cities perform hits like Safe and Sound.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47dtFZ8CFo8′]
Hillside fans’ experiences with umbrellas aside, Dave Matthews Band’s sold-out show at Molson Amphitheatre on Saturday night was outstanding. In addition to the VIP experience I enjoyed thanks to American Express (seriously, follow them on Facebook), the band ensured no one left disappointed.
Rock bands as talented as Dave Matthews Band don’t need flashy costumes or fancy choreographed dances to convince the crowd of their greatness. Their undeniable raw talent led me to focus on their music and appreciate how well the onscreen season-appropriate imagery of roller coasters, flowers and birds fit the outdoor atmosphere.
Blind Pilot’s intimate encore performance above a patio inspired me to delve into their tracks online and reinforced how fortunate I am to live in Toronto, where such treats abound all summer long. Though I was disappointed that “Funny the Way It Is” was missing from Dave Matthews Band’s setlist, I had such a good time that I felt if I got a mosquito bite, it would be worth it.
Eager to attend an upcoming show this summer? Dave Matthews Band tour dates are listed here.
It sure has been a long time since I’ve enjoyed all the fun that Centreville has to offer. August 14th marked my first time back at Toronto Island in about ten years. It was also the first time I’ve seen patrons encouraged to support local eateries like Big Fat Burrito, rather than tempted to buy overpriced slices from Pizza Pizza. Despite the inconvenient wait for the ferry, the Island is a great venue for outdoor summer concerts. Surprisingly, I found the acoustics were better than I’ve heard at Molson Amphitheatre, so I anticipate that we’ll see many more popular headliners perform there in the future.
If you haven’t listened to Polaris Music Prize finalists The Sadies yet, please Google them ASAP; and the same goes for fellow opener Janelle Monae, who is simply incredible. While she was barely on my radar before this past weekend, Janelle has an unmistakable ability to demand attention, such as by standing on top of a speaker. After making a dramatic entrance covered in a black cape, Janelle was full of energy for her hour long set. She even impressed the talented Jully Black who tweeted that she is “dope”, and rightfully so. ‘Wondaland’ is a particularly catchy song, as was ‘Another Year Again’ by The Sadies.
Once the sun disappeared and Arcade Fire came on stage, they proved why their album has been #1 on the Billboard charts this month. Their ninety minute performance had the perfect combination of hits like ‘Keep the Car Running’ along with tracks from their new album The Suburbs, including my personal favourite, ‘Modern Man’. Lead singer Win Butler and his wife Régine Chassagne only spoke to the audience twice: first for the purpose of promoting their charitable work with Kanpe, an organization offering aid to people in Haiti, and then to thank Torontonians for their loyalty. Meanwhile, the band’s use of black and white clips from vintage films made for interesting multimedia displays without distracting fans from the eight musicians or their critically acclaimed lyrics.
While broadcasting a show live online was an innovative idea on their part, oohing and aahing along with thousands of other fans isn’t something you can do in front of a computer screen. When they first disappeared prior to their encore, the audience continued chanting to the tune of ‘Rebellion (Lies)’. Evidently, fans can’t seem to get enough of Arcade Fire, especially given that this was their third show in Toronto alone this summer. As the clock keeps ticking, one can only imagine what’s next for Arcade Fire, the band that never disappoints.
Originally published on Sympatico’s The Hook.