Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) l Lights

On Valentine’s Day, Lights turned MacHall into a neon-lit fever dream for the Come Get Your Girl Tour. The Calgary crowd traded candlelight for strobes as Lights delivered a performance that balanced precise pop with raw emotional release. From heart punching ballads to full throttle bangers, she had the entire room jumping, screaming, and feeling everything all at once.

Opening the night perfectly, Softcult, the Vancouver born indie/grunge act, set a moody, distortion-drenched tone. Their set was exactly the kind of opener that shook the crowd awake: raw, fuzzy guitars paired with a confidently angsty delivery that provided a strong contrast to what was coming next. Brief but memorable, it was perfectly suited to the night’s mood, warming up the audience without stealing the spotlight. As their first show in Calgary, it felt like a strong introduction, and definitely not one that should be their last.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) l Soft Cult

When the lights dropped and the first pulses of “Go Get Your Girl” rang out, the crowd erupted. Opening with the tour’s namesake anthem was a power move, instantly communal and impossible not to sing along to. She flowed straight into “River,” then “Ghost Girl on First,” building early momentum with a sequence that blended fresh A6EXTENDED material with fan favorite emotional cuts. The pacing was deliberate: high energy bursts balanced with introspective swells, a reminder of how Lights has always threaded vulnerability through her glossy synth-pop production.

For nearly two decades, Lights has been Canada’s reigning pop shapeshifter. She first broke through with her 2009 debut The Listening, earning a Juno for New Artist of the Year and quickly building a reputation for emotionally transparent songwriting. Over the years, albums like Little Machines and PEP have showcased her evolution from electropop newcomer to fully self directed creative force, writing, producing, and visually shaping her work with fearless independence.

Visually, the show was saturated in bright, hyper-vivid hues. The lighting didn’t just illuminate, it moved with the music. Each chorus landed in a burst of color, and risers extended across the stage, giving Lights room to climb, crouch, and reach toward the audience. She used every inch of them, turning elevation into intimacy. At one point, she stepped onto the barricade, literally supported by the hands of fans as she gripped theirs to steady herself. It didn’t feel staged, it felt like trust. That’s something Lights has always done best, making big rooms feel personal.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) l Lights

For me, the highlight of the night was “Long Live.” It hit differently live, performed solo, and unfortunately without a guest appearance from Travis Barker, with just her guitar as the crowd sang along. She was completely immersed in the moment, and you could feel how much the song still means, even in this era. For longtime fans especially, it carried a wave of nostalgia, bringing back the feeling of her breakout years in the early to mid-2000s and reminding everyone why they fell in love with her music in the first place. And of course, she closed with the encore, “Up We Go” from Little Machines. That song will never not work live. It felt like the whole room was shouting it back at her, a perfect end to a night that was equal parts joyful, emotional, and unforgettable.

By the time the lights came up, you were still singing and swaying to the energy that had filled the room. Calgary was part of a show that was one hundred miles per hour, yet full of heart. Lights reminded everyone why she’s not just a pop star, but a storyteller and performer who makes every fan feel seen. From Softcult’s gritty opener to the last note of her encore, “Education,” it was a night of music, connection, and pure joy. The kind of concert that leaves you smiling, humming, and already counting down to the next time she comes back.