Lights performing at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA. February 5, 2018. Photo Credit: Jared Stossel.
Lights
w/ Chase Atlantic, DCF
The Fillmore
San Francisco, CA
February 5, 2018
Photos and review by Jared Stossel
The past several years have seen the worlds of comic books and music begin to synchronize. Musicians like Gerard Way, Ryan Key, and Claudio Sanchez (Coheed & Cambria) have broken into the comic-sphere either as writers of existing franchises or creators of their own books. Lights (aka Valerie Poxleitner), an electropop musician hailing from Ontario, Canada, is the newest addition to this family, with the release of her fourth studio album, Skins & Earth, and its comic book companion. In honor of the release of her album this past September, Poxleitner embarked on a North American headlining tour that stopped at San Francisco's historic Fillmore this past Monday.
After opening sets from pop solo artist DCF and Australian alternative rock act Chase Atlantic, Lights took the stage with her four-piece band, armed with nothing but her microphone and a vibrant LED screen behind her. Poxleitner launched into a set that was heavily comprised of Skin & Earth material, opening with the dynamic "New Fears" and "Savage", before moving her way into "Second Go", a fan favorite from her 2009 debut album, The Listening.
The comic book element of Light & Skin was blended into the show throughout the evening, with a short video interlude appearing on the screen after the album's track, "Moonshine". This type of stage production didn't overshadow the show as a whole; there were no costumes or theatrics of the sort, but it did provide an homage to integral moments in the comic book. (On a personal note, and speaking as a bit of a comic nerd, I think it would be awesome to see the comic's story explored more in future live shows.)
After this video interlude, Lights returned to the stage for three acoustic songs: "Cactus In The Valley", "February Air", and "Muscle Memory", before bringing the energy back up with tracks like "Running With The Boys" and "We Were Here". As the beautifully crafted evening of music came to an end, Poxleitner and Co. returned to perform "Same Sea" and "Giants" for the show's climactic encore.
The genre of electropop that Lights has since made her trademark sound has morphed into a cavalcade of electronic music genres that have permeated the mainstream music scene since she released her first EP back in 2008. But even with the oversaturation of electronic music in today's day and age, Poxleitner creates electropop that's unique within its own right. You can listen to a Lights track and easily know its her, whether through her delicate yet show-stopping voice, or her subtle yet dance-inspiring electronic-pop hybrid productions. Add in the comic book element to the live show that was blended in throughout the night, and you have a superstar songwriter that is always poised to bring forth a spirited performance time after time.
Lights Setlist
New Fears
Savage
Second Go
Toes
Up We Go
Siberia
Cactus In the Valley (Acoustic)
February Air (Acoustic)
Muscle Memory (acoustic)
Skydiving
Kicks
Running With the Boys
Morphine
We Were Here
Almost Had Me
Encore:
Same Sea
Giants
Lights
www.iamlights.com
www.facebook.com/lights
@lights
Chase Atlantic
@chaseatlantic
DCF
www.iamdcf.com
www.facebook.com/princeDCF
@princeDCF
This has been another Shameless Promotion.