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Lights In Vancouver
May 9th lit up Vancouver, literally and figuratively, as the city’s millennial crowd gathered to welcome their synth-pop queen, Lights. The night buzzed with energy as fans packed into the Commodore Ballroom for a sold-out spectacle that was part concert, part time-traveling dance party. Fresh off the release of her highly anticipated A6 album, which critics are already hailing as a bold evolution of her sound, Lights hit the stage as part of her electric (A)LIVE AGAIN Tour. The setlist pulsed with bangers from A6, each one hitting like a neon lightning bolt. But Lights didn’t forget where she came from, between new anthems, she threw in just the right amount of old-school hits to send waves of nostalgia rippling through the crowd. It was a perfect blend of future-facing fire and retro feels, and it proved one thing: Lights is not just back, she’s brighter than ever.
King Mala Sets The Vibe
Setting the tone with a smoky, moody flair was none other than L.A.’s own rising alt-pop enchantress, King Mala. A perfect match for the night’s vibe, she kicked things off with a 12-track whirlwind from her latest project, And You Who Drowned In the Grief of a Golden Thing. A mouthful, yes, but also a musical deep-dive worth every second. Curiosity got the best of me before the show, so I gave her album a spin, and I was instantly hooked. Standouts like “Possession” and “Devotion” delivered a genre-melting mix of grit, groove, and gut-punch emotion. Think Billie Eilish’s edge, Olivia Rodrigo’s angst, and a dash of Nine Inch Nails’ industrial bite. The sounds were something straight up my alley. Turns out, I wasn’t alone. The Commodore crowd was vibing right along, swaying and soaking up every layered lyric and pulsing beat. And by the time she closed her set with the haunting “Ode To A Blackhole,” it was clear: King Mala owned her moment. She left a mark on Vancouver, and if the audience’s reaction was anything to go by, this city is more than ready for her return.
Anticipation Builds
I’ve stepped through the doors of the Commodore Ballroom more times than I can count, but something about this night buzzed differently. Maybe it was the soaring success of A6, or maybe the mix of millennials and Gen Z fans clutching years of emotional investment. Ready to scream every lyric like it was 2010 again. As an OG fan, I could feel it building, a shared pulse of anticipation. Scanning the crowd, I spotted merch from every corner of Lights’ multi-era career, shirts from the Siberia days, hoodies from Skin & Earth, even some vintage finds that screamed “I’ve been here since Myspace.” That’s when I knew: this night was going to live rent-free in all our hearts for a long, long time. And then, the lights dimmed. The room fell silent for half a heartbeat… Before exploding into cheers as Lights In Vancouver emerged, kicking off the night with A6’s “Day Two”.
Lights Proves Yet Again Why She's The Queen
For the next hour and a half, Lights In Vancouver turned the Commodore into a full-blown (A)LIVE celebration. It was a 20-song set that hit every emotional and sonic note. While the spotlight naturally shone brightest on A6’s freshest bangers, Lights made sure her past eras got their well-deserved flowers too. OG fans were treated to a nostalgic rollercoaster with a gorgeous medley of The Listening classics “Saviour,” “Drive My Soul,” and “Second Go”. Which blended seamlessly into a moment that felt like a warm hug from 2009. Then came the euphoric chaos of Little Machines’ “Up We Go,” which had the entire floor jumping, and belting like it was the finale of a feel-good teen movie. But it wasn’t all throwback vibes. The new material hit just as hard, maybe even harder. A6 tracks like “Damage,” “White Paper Palm Trees,” and “Surface Tension” were already ingrained in the crowd’s DNA. Fans screaming along word-for-word like they’d been part of their playlists for years, not weeks. Personal standouts? “Ghost Girl On First” and “Clingy”, straight-up chef’s kiss moments live. From studio to stage, they lost none of their charm and somehow hit even harder in person. And of course, no Lights show would be complete without her signature blend of charm and cheek. At one point, she grinned and declared, “February Air is officially legal drinking age!”. Prompting laughs, groans, and probably a few existential crises. (Seriously, my back still hurts from that realization).
In Closing
Closing out the night was the explosive, heart-thumping anthem “Alive Again”. A perfect finale that had the entire crowd shouting every word like a battle cry. As the final note rang out and faded, a wave of emotion washed over the room. I stood there, stunned, trying to hold onto the energy of a set that felt like it had flown by in the blink of an eye. A part of me held onto the hope that Lights would reappear for one last surprise. Maybe a medley of deep cuts or a one-song encore from an old era. But no fake-out came. And honestly? She didn’t need it. Lights In Vancouver delivered a masterfully crafted, emotionally rich set that kept us floating just above the surface, never letting us sink, never letting the energy drop. It was calculated chaos, nostalgia-laced joy, and pure sonic catharsis all rolled into one. As I finally stepped out into the Vancouver night, still buzzing from the experience, one thought stuck with me. There was no better way this night could’ve gone. My first Lights In Vancouver show won’t be my last, and I wouldn’t change a single second of it.
Thank you Lights In Vancouver for all the incredibly moving music over the years, and thank you to the team for allowing me to witness and capture the unforgettable (A)LIVE AGAIN Tour. If you want to catch a future date on the tour or find more info on Lights, visit here: https://www.iamlights.com/
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