From a flying butterfly to a crowd-surfing shark and a chorus of fans voting via QR code to hear a ballad about heartbreak —welcome to Lifetimes, Katy Perry’s cosmic-coated tour de force that lit up Anaheim’s Honda Center on Sunday, July 13.
It marked her first tour in eight years and served as a true ode to the community that’s stuck with her since she first kissed a girl and liked it.
From the moment opener Rebecca Black took the stage, the night brimmed with symbolism, nostalgia, and queer joy. Black, who rose to viral infamy in 2011 with “Friday,” is now a proud queer pop artist who’s found both her voice and her audience.
Backed by two dancers and cheeky protest-style picket signs that read things like “Homo Sex is Life” and “Turn to Salvation,” Black delivered more than a performance — she delivered a reclamation. “Thank you for being so beautiful and gay, we love you!” she shouted as she exited the stage, flipping the narrative on a space that once mocked her.
The irony wasn’t lost on anyone that outside the venue, real protesters waved signs bearing extreme religious messages in opposition to the concert. Inside, however, Perry and Black created a world where joy, defiance, and sequins reigned supreme.
And it was a full-circle moment: over a decade ago, Black made a cameo in Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” music video — a pop culture nod that once seemed fleeting. Now, 14 years later, she’s opening Perry’s long-awaited return to touring, standing in her own spotlight.
Both artists also share local roots. Black hails from Irvine, and Perry, from Santa Barbara. Perry reminded fans of her early days performing on Main Street for free avocados. It was a night steeped in reflection and personal growth, underscoring the power of perseverance and transformation.
Even before Perry hit the stage, the energy inside Honda Center was electric, especially among her youngest fans. The venue buzzed with little girls in matching tutus, glittery Katy Perry tees, pink wigs, and Teenage Dream-era costumes. For many, it was their first concert ever. To them, Perry was a living cartoon, a hero who made being playful, weird, and expressive feel powerful.
After a montage of her most iconic videos and fan-captured memories played across towering screens, Perry emerged from the center of the stage in a space-age suit, flanked by robot dancers. The show itself felt like a video game: Perry had to collect three hearts — courage, knowledge, and freedom — before unlocking the final heart, strength. Campy and delightfully weird, the structure gave the show a fun touch.
“This is real. Forming a community, making friends,” Perry told the crowd. That spirit of connection pulsed throughout the night, whether she was dedicating a song to the LGBTQ+ community or inviting five fans onstage — including a young girl, a guy in a shark costume, two women dressed like extras from the “Last Friday Night” video who flew in from France, and someone in a taco suit.
Vocally strong and emotionally present, Perry also reminded everyone that she’s been through multiple eras and evolutions. At one point, fans scanned a QR code on screen to vote for a deep cut from her “Teenage Dream” album. “Not Like the Movies” won.
“Wow, you voted for the song I wrote about my first divorce — thanks guys,” she laughed. The ballad was performed as phone lights lit the arena like stars. Then she followed it up with “The One That Got Away,” just because she could.
From “Dark Horse” and “California Girls” to “Part of Me” and “E.T.,” the crowd sang every word. For “I Kissed a Girl,” Perry gave a nod to her Santa Barbara roots and the queer fans who’ve lifted her since the start. She spoke about motherhood, dedicating “Daisies” to her daughter Daisy, who was in the crowd, and later addressed moms in the audience directly: “If you’re ever feeling alone, just know there’s a visible string connecting us, we’re in this together.”
Recently, she’s been roasted on TikTok for her choreography and stage presence. But on this night, she silenced the noise with a performance that was polished, heartfelt, and completely her. Yes, she’s quirky, but isn’t that the point?
And then came the wings. She soared above the audience on a giant butterfly to sing “Roar,” before closing the show with a confetti-filled “Firework.” The visuals were larger than life, but the final message was as personal as ever:
“Thank you for showing up for me, Anaheim. I know this is real.”