I had always heard of the artist Lights in passing, but my first true experience with her was when she made a surprise guest appearance during Silverstein’s show last year. Hearing her voice live and witnessing her charisma during that one song, I knew I needed to experience a proper Lights show. Thankfully, I only had to wait a year before she announced the Come Get Your Girl tour in support of her new album, A6. The tour came to the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles and sold out so quickly that she decided to book a second show the following night. I was fortunate to attend the second night, along with many excited fans who couldn’t get tickets to the first. It was time to dance, sing, and let loose with Lights.

Opening for this tour was Canadian grunge duo Softcult, made up of twin siblings Mercedes Arn-Horn on guitar and vocals, and Phoenix Arn-Horn on drums and vocals. They kicked off the night with their song “Drain,” filling the El Rey with the vibrations of classic fuzzy grunge tones, paired with a modern rhythm and flow. Mercedes sings with an almost blasé emotion, blending it with a brightness that feels like ear candy. When the tempo picks up, her voice transforms into a ferocious, punk-esque yell, creating a duality that keeps you on your toes—you never know what’s coming next.

Drummer Phoenix maneuvers through the dichotomy of their songs with precision and effectiveness, staying in the pocket for softer tracks and letting their kit do the talking during the more aggressive tunes. When Phoenix joins in on vocals, it feels like two voices speaking directly into each of your ears, creating a stereo-style vocal performance that wraps you in Softcult’s music. Their solid 40-minute set included songs like “Pill to Swallow,” “Naïve,” “Tired,” “16/25,” “Glass,” “Not Sorry,” “Love Song,” “Take It Off,” “Haunt You Still,” and ended with “Spit It Out.” Softcult delivered a dreary brightness that had the crowd moving and grooving, perfectly warming them up for the headliner.

It was then time for Lights to take the stage, opening with the namesake song of the tour, “COME AND GET YOUR GIRL.” Within seconds, fans were dancing and jumping along to the music. As soon as Lights began singing, the El Rey Theatre was overtaken by the sound of fans singing along, almost drowning out the speakers. Lights lit up with the biggest, most genuine smile, clearly thrilled to perform for her LA fans, who cherished every word she had written.

Lights also plays guitar while singing, but she doesn’t let the mic stand confine her. She often steps out from behind it, letting her backing band take the lead on certain parts so she can move around the stage and connect with the crowd. About a third of the way through the set, Lights set her guitar aside to focus solely on singing, and that’s when the show kicked into high gear.

Stripping off her oversized T-shirt to reveal a bodysuit, Lights fully embraced the stage, unrestrained and confident. She even jumped onto the barricade to get up close with fans. At this point, she was working the entire stage, often dropping down onto the risers and letting her body become the conductor of the music’s sensual energy. The show reached a more intimate level when a gamer chair adorned with the A6 album title in LED lights appeared on stage. Lights performed an almost burlesque-inspired chair dance while singing “Love Me,” captivating the audience.

Lights’ performance wasn’t just a concert; it was a spiritual movement that connected every soul in the crowd through the unity of music. Her setlist included songs like “River,” “Ghost Girl on First,” “Running With the Boys,” “You’re Killing Me,” “Batshit,” “FINAL ROUND,” “Piranha,” “Take It Easy,” “DAMAGE,” “Prodigal Daughter,” “Okay Okay,” “SURFACE TENSION,” “Same Sea,” and “ALIVE AGAIN.” She closed the night with a two-song encore featuring “Up We Go” and “EDUCATION.” The audience was immersed in a synth-wave bliss of pure joy and ecstasy.

As this was my first time experiencing a full Lights show, I was blown away—not just by her performance, but by the energy of the crowd. At many concerts, the audience loses their minds for the hits, but their energy dips during the deep cuts. That wasn’t the case here. No matter the song, the crowd was with Lights 100%, never letting their energy waver. This was the kind of crowd you lose yourself in, transcending everyday life to live fully in the moment.

This tour is just getting started and runs through the end of March. If you’re into electropop, synthpop, or even the 80s new wave sound, Lights is a performer you shouldn’t miss.