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| Katy Perry @ the Chase Center (Photo: Skyler Greene/Chase Center) |
Arriving at San Francisco’s Chase Center just after 7 p.m. on Friday night, I was greeted by something I’d never encountered before at the venue—even for a sold-out show: massive entry lines. We’re talking shoulder-to-shoulder crowds snaking through the courtyard, stretching beyond any reasonable expectation. Sure, it was Friday, but were this many people really arriving all at once? Or was something else going on? A security issue? Staff shortages? A quiet employee sick-out? These were the questions swirling through my head as I navigated the chaos in search of an entry line that didn’t feel like a half-marathon.
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| Katy Perry @ the Chase Center (Photo: Skyler Greene/Chase Center) |
Then, a small miracle. As a frequent flier, my eyes caught sight of the Clear Plus member entrance—practically empty by comparison. Not to sound like a walking ad for Clear, but it felt like a backstage pass in the middle of a logistical nightmare. Within minutes, I was through the gates and headed toward my seat.
The clock was ticking close to the 7:30 p.m. start time, when opener Rebecca Black was scheduled to perform—but something still felt off. Ushers were halting people from entering the arena bowl. There was no way the show could start on time if nobody was allowed to sit. Sure enough, only after 7:30 were fans finally let into the seating area. It wasn’t until later in the night that we’d learn the truth: a significant technical issue had nearly derailed the show entirely.
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| Rebecca Black @ the Chase Center (Photo: Skyler Greene/Chase Center) |
Rebecca Black eventually took the stage at 8:00 p.m., flanked by two shirtless male dancers in white shorts and leather chest harnesses. Her voice was strong, her stage presence confident—but her lyrics skewed a bit more risqué than what some might have expected for a Katy Perry audience. In my section alone, a quarter of the crowd appeared to be made up of pre-teens and their parents. The crowd was wonderfully diverse, though—young kids in LED fairy wings, proud parents, and of course, a lively and colorful LGBTQ+ contingent. The costume game was on point across the board.
Then, at 9:00 p.m. sharp, the lights dimmed and the giant LED screens flickered to life. We were transported into a digital narrative: Katy Perry, now a cyborg, had been tasked with conquering five dystopian realms to gather the power needed to defeat an AI villain who had stolen the world’s butterflies.
It became immediately clear—this wasn’t just a concert. It was a full-blown theatrical experience.
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| Katy Perry @ the Chase Center (Photo: Skyler Greene/Chase Center) |
Katy made her grand entrance by rising from the center of the stage—an infinity-shaped structure that spanned the floor of the arena. Draped in futuristic cyber-glam, she mimicked tearing away the tubes that tethered her to a computer mainframe (à la The Matrix’s Neo waking up from the machine world). Suspended midair, belting out the opening track “ARTIFICIAL,” she hovered above a dozen dancers delivering tightly choreographed moves below her. It was a jaw-dropping moment—and it was only the beginning.
Early in the show, Katy finally addressed the elephant in the room:
“So I know you’ve been waiting all night—and it was a little late getting in. But let me tell you, two and a half hours ago, we didn’t even know if we were going to be able to do the show. And I was like, ‘No! We’re in tech city—they’ll figure it out!’ So yeah, maybe you bought a little more merch while you waited, but we’re here now—and we’re ready to party!”
Crisis averted. Time to blast off.
As the show progressed, we followed Katy’s journey through fantastical realms, each one punctuated by elaborate sets, intricate costume changes, and a cascade of hits. During the “Woman’s World” segment, she cheekily introduced the next song—“California Gurls”—saying it should be a crowd favorite. The crowd roared in agreement.
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| Katy Perry @ the Chase Center (Photo: Skyler Greene/Chase Center) |
But it wasn’t all spectacle. What set this show apart was how deeply Katy connected with her fans. She read signs, shouted out costumes, borrowed phones for selfies, and even invited fans on stage during a choose-your-own-adventure portion of the night. A QR code appeared on the massive screens, letting fans vote for the next song—cleverly requiring an email to participate. (An interactive moment and a smart bit of marketing.)
Among those invited on stage were two young sisters, ages 5 and 8, dressed identically and plucked from the second-to-last row of the nosebleeds. Another was a pregnant fan whose handmade sign caught Katy’s eye—it asked her to name the unborn baby. Katy spent nearly 20 minutes engaging with her guests, sharing stories about her own 5-year-old daughter (who apparently woke her up at 5:15 a.m. that morning). She called motherhood the best thing she’s ever done.
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| Katy Perry @ the Chase Center (Photo: Skyler Greene/Chase Center) |
As they marched around the infinity stage, the on-stage guests helped Katy perform the sweet, percussion-driven “ALL THE LOVE” using egg shakers. It was a heart-melting moment, and one that made the giant venue feel a whole lot smaller and more intimate.
The final acts of the night brought the battle with the rogue AI to its climax. Katy rose from the stage astride a giant butterfly suspended from the rafters, soaring across the arena. At one point, the butterfly unexpectedly dropped several feet—but Katy didn’t miss a beat, calmly continuing her vocals before landing back at center stage like a seasoned pro.
Though there was no formal encore, the grand finale came in the form of “Firework.” As pyrotechnics lit up the Chase Center and confetti rained from above, Katy addressed the sold-out crowd:
“San Francisco, you’re my biggest North American show—and I love you for that! Stay weird, San Francisco. You’re gay, you’re loud, and you’re gay loud!”
The show wrapped around 11:15 p.m.—well past curfew, but not a soul seemed to mind. As fans poured out of the arena buzzing with energy, one thing was clear: Katy Perry didn’t just deliver a concert—she delivered an experience. And for those lucky enough to be there, it was a night they won’t soon forget.
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