IGHTS performs live in New York City's Bowery Ballroom

A glow all her own: LIGHTS at Bowery Ballroom

@ryanreid.sound

On June 5, LIGHTS lit up Bowery Ballroom with the kind of genre-defying energy that’s made her a mainstay in alt-pop and electronic scenes for over a decade. She packed a sold-out crowd into the famed New York City venue, the second-to-last stop on her “(A)LIVE AGAIN” tour, fresh off the release of her latest album A6, released May 2.

KiNG MALA: CULT VIBES ONLY

Opening the night was KiNG MALA, who played her debut album, And You Who Drowned in the Grief of a Golden Thing, in full. The Los Angeles-based alt-pop artist blended a bit masc energy with some witchy aesthetic, and quickly won over fans with her sharp and confident banter between songs. With her own unique style and artistry, I couldn’t think of a better opener to pair with LIGHTS for this month-long North America run. There’s a sense that the only thing limiting the full force of KiNG MALA’s performance is the size of the stage.

LIGHTS: WIRED FOR WORSHIP

LIGHTS put on one hell of a show, spending the night moving between the fresh pulse of A6 and the tracks that longtime fans have carried with them for over a decade. The stage production, the pacing, the way she moved through the set, LIGHTS understood exactly what kind of show this needed to be: a reunion for her most devout fans and a welcoming sermon of new worshippers.

At one point, LIGHTS spoke about her early music career on Warped Tour and her love for emo bands that helped shape her sound, citing Taking Back Sunday among others. But this night was not focused entirely on looking back, it was acknowledging her roots while continuing to grow as a seasoned musician. It was clear the crowd showed up for all of it—the past, the present, and whatever’s next.