No flops here: Katy Perry’s Phoenix concert was a sci-fi spectacle of pop power

Yes, we’ve all seen the viral clips flooding social media of Katy Perry awkwardly running, levitating and rotating like rotisserie chicken at your local Costco, neon lights flashing and crowds screaming; but if you showed up to her Phoenix concert expecting a flop, you were mistaken.

What you were in for was a wild, pleasantly unexpected ride.

The second Katy Perry stepped onto the infinity-shaped stage at PHX Arena on July 12 for her Lifetimes Tour concert, time rewound.

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Before the show began, massive TVs looped her most iconic music videos, taking the crowd from the candy-colored chaos of "California Gurls" to the empowering roar of, well, "Roar." Fans — young, old and every age in between — came dressed in homage: cupcake bras, prism wigs, cotton candy-colored shoes and, yes, many Left Shark costumes.

You could feel the inner teen spirit in the room.

Perry brought energy, eccentric visuals and a nostalgic dose of pop weirdness. Although during one segment of the show something felt a bit off in the air, her captivating optimism kept the show going and entertaining. The crowd? Loud. The vibes? Sometimes mismatched.

Katy Perry setlist 2025: All the songs from her Lifetimes Tour launch concert

Katy Perry: Pop queen of the past and future

After an eight-year hiatus from touring, Perry returned with a vengeance and some help from AI. The show opened with a computerized video montage, all butterflies and futuristic vibes, like a promo for a "Tron" sequel. The concert was divided into digital-sounding chapters such as Labyrinth, Shadow Valley and Nirvana.

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At times, it felt like a Disney ride: hyperspeed visuals, laser beams, robotic narration and enough bass to knock your soul loose.

Perry loves to defy gravity. She spent a good chunk of the night suspended in the air, whether floating in a metal orb, riding a giant dragonfly or casually dangling from cables like a sci-fi heroine. The show opened with her wired up and levitating like an AI experiment gone glam and, for a second, she looked almost animatronic — in the coolest, weirdest way.

Her remixed songs, especially "Chained to the Rhythm," sent the crowd into a nightclub frenzy. The vibe was '80s hyper-synth pop, and the bass? Maybe a little too intense but only during the beginning of the show.

Perry came in blazing with energy, but the Phoenix crowd seemed sluggish at first. During the first few songs, not a single phone was in sight, and not in a good, "live in the moment" kind of way. The audience eventually warmed up, especially when she performed fan favorites like "Teenage Dream," "I Kissed a Girl,” (she mentioned that she still likes to do that) and "The One That Got Away."

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She also gave a raw, acoustic-style nod to "Harleys in Hawaii" after a fan requested it; riffing off it a bit before saying, "It’s not on the list," but delighting the crowd with a snippet and even hinted that it should probably be on the setlist.

Did Katy Perry fall? A little glitch in the matrix

Let’s talk about that moment: Perry’s unexpected tumble during “Part of Me.” Honestly, it almost looked intentional. The way she dropped and then sprang back up with a grin made it feel like part of the choreography. Whether it was a planned bit of slapstick or a genuine misstep, she pulled it off. The audience barely had time to gasp before she was back on her feet, powering through the performance like nothing happened.

That said, the show wasn’t without its quirks. The massive TV screen setup, though visually striking, sometimes made it hard to see her, especially for fans relying on it for close-ups.

There was a QR code moment that was supposed to be interactive, but some fans said it didn’t work. And while the “Mainframe” portion was billed as the high-energy climax, it leaned more into chaotic camp. At one point during "E.T.," Perry seemed more interested in mock battling her backup dancers than hitting the notes, giving off major sci-fi soap opera vibes.

Highlights: Fans rooted for Mexico, and she gave Arizona some love

When Perry brought a few fans on stage, two young girls stole the show when they said they were from Mexico. The arena erupted in a spontaneous chant: "México! México!" Katy beamed and shouted back, "Viva la México!"

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Later, she gave a touching shout-out to Arizona, noting that one of her backup dancers, Eric Klich, is from Surprise and a proud University of Arizona alum. She even reminisced about attending Paradise Valley Christian School, hiking Camelback Mountain, and joked, "I’m not gonna talk about the weather, but Phoenix, you are so hot."

Oh, and she was also very impressed by the name of Drinkwater Boulevard in Scottsdale.

“Phoenix is so empathetic to its citizens. It reminds its citizens to drink water by naming a street to drink water,” she said.

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Katy Perry is a nostalgic treasure

Perry closed the show on a high with everyone’s favorite, “Firework.” Sure, the shortened versions of songs made the setlist feel rushed at times and, yeah, maybe our ears are still ringing. But Perry gave everything she had and here's a shout-out to her for reminding us that pop music can be a total joyride.

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Phoenix, do better next time. She gave you all her glitter and guts. The least we could do is dance a little harder.

Katy Perry is still the zany pop queen she always was, complete with cotton candy accessories, playful banter and cartoonish visuals. There’s a chaotic, caffeine-rush energy to her shows that’s impossible not to admire. It's refreshing that she hasn't toned herself down. The whole thing felt like a rave, a video game and a childhood fever dream rolled into one.

Even after all these years, I found myself belting out every word with the same fire I had in middle school and, judging by the crowd, I wasn’t alone. Kids were dancing in LED glasses, parents were mouthing the lyrics and it felt like the music had bridged generations.

Seeing her on stage, loud and totally Katy, healed a little piece of my childhood heart. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a glittery time machine.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Katy Perry brings neon nostalgia, pop weirdness to Phoenix