NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
It’s been almost exactly five years since I was last able to cover a Lights (aka Valerie Ann Poxleitner-Bokan) show. That’s pretty much the time between “PEP”, her fifth studio album, released in April of last year and “Skin and Earth”, her previous record that coincided with the release of her comic books and a graphic novel. She had toured North America last year on her “Baby I’m Back Tour”, ending at HISTORY in Toronto so I wanted to see what this year’s tour would be like. It was my first time at Bridgeworks in Hamilton, a cozy venue that was perfect for the kind of party that she and her devoted fanbase would bring to the evening. Fans were there early and in force, proudly wearing their Lights merch. It was going to be a hell of a night!
Opening for Lights was Toronto drag queen Tynomi Banks (aka Sheldon McIntosh). Talk about starting the night with a bang! I’m not usually a fan of lip synching but Banks is one incredible performer! Strutting around the stage, flinging her hair around, she exhibits strength and attitude, but wrapped up in a playfulness that can’t help but put a smile on your face. There was also constant audience engagement, and I mean “AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT”!!! What a fun way to start the evening!
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As we waited for Lights to enter the stage, it seemed like there was quite a lot of equipment on that tiny stage. I wondered how she was going to navigate around the keyboards and other electronics but I suppose that’s part of a Lights show since so much of her music revolve around electronics. When she and her band took the stage, they kicked off right away with “Intro”, then “Salt and Vinegar” from “PEP”. The good thing about having the record come out a year ago is that the audience is already extremely familiar with the tracks. The bad thing about having the record come out a year ago is ALSO that the audience is already extremely familiar with the tracks and sing loudly to every song. It does make for a great party atmosphere though. She looked like she was having a lot of fun and that’s always a good sign! At one point, she called out a sign in the back that said “So… I Hear We’re Having a Baby???”. Turns out the sign was held by fellow musician Leandra Earl, guitarist for Toronto band Beaches!! As for the setlist, it was very similar to last year’s Toronto show with perhaps a couple of songs from “Skin and Earth” removed. Lights’ music continues to evolve with each record and, while some detractors point to the music moving more mainstream with less emotion, her fans, some of whom have been to every Lights show they can get to, don’t seem to mind and that’s really what’s important.
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