KatyCats of all age’s clowder together at the PHX Arena for Katy Perry’s most anticipated, “The Lifetimes Tour” on 7/13/2025. A cyber-punk/matrix dystopian future action-adventure themed performance accompanied by a production set most artists/bands would die for, was presented to the Phoenix concert goers. The event can accurately be described as a FOMO moment, “Fear of Missing Out”, for those not in attendance and for those who did, a “You had to have been there” exhilarating memory. On entering the seating area, fans were greeted by Katy Perry’s infinity stage, a large figure eight stage that sprawled the standing floor from one end to the other. In Katy Perry’s own words on the choice of the stage, “[I]t represents the 8-year hiatus from the last time I have been on tour.”
Rebecca Black kicked off the event to a sea of fans enthralled in the spectacle of the tour visuals, displayed on the large light wall monitors which were set up in a broken design. Rebecca presented her set with her back-up dancers holding a self-made banner decorated with two leopard pattern crosses and her name “Rebecca Black” presented in the middle as she peaked out from behind hitting the fans with the song “American Doll” off her album SALVATION. Her set mainly consisted of songs off her album SALVATION, songs such as “Twist the Knife”, “Do You Even Think About Me?”, “TRUST!” and “Salvation”. Her performance met with cheer as fans danced, jumped and sang along with her; a precursor to what was to unfold for Katy Perry.
As the stagehands vehemently work to put the final touches on Katy Perry’s set, fans could be seen laughing, singing, taking selfies and pictures of the set and of one another. To bide the time and keep the fans in high spirits, a cameraman of Katy Perry’s walked around the venue interacting with the crowd utilizing a set camera that would display eager/brave fans on the stage light wall monitor. Excitement filled the venue as the lights shut off, everyone was instantly surrounded by a barrage of screams and cheers that grew louder, you could feel it running through your body. The middle of the stage opened, and a structure of cables towered upward, in the middle Katy Perry is slowly lifted and presented to the crowd plugged into the “Matrix”.
Katy performed many fan favorite songs off her extensive catalog and albums, albums such as Teenage Dream, 143, Smile and PRISM. In a performance that chained together events that unfolded on stage like a screenplay, each song rolled perfectly into the other. Katy performed songs such as “Chained to the Rhythm”, “Dark Horse”, “California Gurls”, “Teenage Dream”, “I Kissed a Girl”, “NIRVANA”, a fan voted song “Pearl”, “Rise”, “Roar” ending the event with the ever popular “Firework”.
Katy Perry gave everything to the Phoenix fans, a well immersed no-expense wasted experience and for six fans in particular a personal intimate experience as they shared the stage with Katy Perry and her band as they performed “The One That Got Away”. For two of the fans that were brought on stage, two young girls from Mexico, it was a heartfelt moment as they trembled in excitement seeing and meeting Katy Perry in person. Katy hugged them showing her passion and support saying, “This is for you, they are all cheering for you!” as the venue erupted in a unison cheer for the two girls. “¡Viva la México!” Katy shouted in affirmation.
Bar none, this was one of the best performances presented in the PHX Arena to date and every KatyCat in attendance had their tantalizing moments forever etched as a memory that will haunt them for more. From the music to the visual performance on the light wall monitors, to the set performances/theatrics by Katy Perry and her boys (back-up dancers) even to the breaks between songs. A night to be remembered and a top-of-the-line performance given.
Do not pass up this experience, purchase your tickets for a city near you (Katy Perry Official Website)
Katy Perry
Rebecca Black
Review/Photos By: Julius Aguilar
