Katy Perry with Capital Cities and Ferras on June 25, 2014 at the Verizon Center

I took my daughter to see Katy Perry for her 9th birthday; we went with my friend Laura and her 9 year old daughter. We had nosebleed seats at the Verizon Center, but I still felt we saw everything clearly, so I didn't mind. (Verizon center hold 18,000 people - it's an indoor stadium in the heart of DC.)

Ferras, Verizon Center, 6-25-14

We arrived at 7:10 and the first opener was already going strong: Ferras, who I have since learned is a Jordanian singer-songwriter based in LA and the first to sign onto Katy Perry's new label. He was a little to boy band/R&B-sounding for my taste, but he did have stage presence. He spent most of his time behind keyboards, so he didn't move around much on the huge stage, but he did have a pink neon sign of his name behind him. I give him a "meh".

Capital Cities, Verizon Center, 6-25-14

Capital Cities went on at 8 pm. I had previewed more of their music before attending this show, and it turns out I like a few of their songs, not just the famous one "Safe and Sound". Capital Cities is technically a duo from LA, but they brought a few other musicians on the tour with them. The trumpeter really stood out on stage, and I liked the band's neon jackets with the reflective stripes as costumes. They were better about using the whole stage than Ferras. They walked the catwalk sometimes and had a dance-party to a remix of Safe and Sound as their exit song where the band just danced and ran around like maniacs. It was adorable, and smart reinforcement of their hit single. (They also played the original version in the middle of the set.) The band was also savvy enough to remember to tell the crowd their name, unlike Ferras. (That is my #1 pet peeve with openers  - it's marketing 101, musicians!)

Katy Perry went on right at 9 pm and was coming back for an encore at 11:15 when we left. I almost never see shows with 2 hour sets, so that was a bit of a shock to me, but honestly, she kept our attention the entire time. All the rumors I'd heard about her amazing stage shows were 100% true. She brought it. Elaborate video backdrops, huge props that came up through trapdoors in the floor of the stage, a giant V shaped runway with general admission standing room in the middle, conveyor belts as part of that runway, amazing laser lights (better light design than I've ever seen at an show), acrobats, amazing dancers, lots of costume changes - you name it, she did it. By the end of it, I could see why someone would shell out $175 for a floor seat to this show. (And a lot more for VIP "experiences" like meet and greets.)

Here's the set list: (with my notes of what happened when)

• 

  Katy Perry Prismatic intro, Verizon Center, 6-25-14
1. Prismatic - glow tube costumes, gemstone background, best glitter effect ever from laser lights, arrived through floor that opened like gem facets, umbrellas and glowing spears
1. Roar 
2. Part of Me 
3. Wide Awake 
4. This Moment / Love Me 

Katy Perry Prismatic intro, Verizon Center, 6-25-14

1. Egyptian - rode an oversized gold puppet horse, hunks in chest straps, a rapper as the sphinx in a cartoon video,  twisty platform rose high in the air with Katy on it.
5. Dark Horse 
6. E.T. 
7. Legendary Lovers 
8. I Kissed a Girl 
9. Cat-Oure - a long, funny kitty meme cartoon video for set change (does she EVER know her audience!), cat costumes, reference to "Katy Kats" fan club, cat couture runway show to Vogue, oversized cat scratching posts with carpet perches
9. Hot N Cold 
10. International Smile 
    (Contains elements of 'Vogue' by Madonna)
11. Acoustic - sunflower set, fairy princess costume, selfie photo, gave a pizza to a kid, talked to all the kids in the audience in a way that connected well
11. By the Grace of God 
12. The One That Got Away / Thinking of You 
13. Unconditionally 
14. Throwback - harness flying, silk over the audience pit, cloud effects, platform and crazy 1-story-high bell skirt  yin-yang dress, giant puppet butterflies. 
14. Walking on Air 
15. It Takes Two 
16. This Is How We Do / Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) 
17. Hyper Heon - neon 80s clothes, neon floating parade float balloons in audience (including Cover Girl marketing tie-in lipstick), inflatable full sized pink convertible that dancers rode in, moving neon letters that spelled out various words, Katy wore a bra made of 2 big smiley faces with a third big one on her butt
17. Teenage Dream 
18. California Gurls 
19. Birthday 

Katy Perry Hyper Neon closeout, Verizon Center, 6-25-14

1. Encore:(We missed this)
20. Firework 

James Blake at the Lincoln Theater, June 12, 2014

This is what I posted about this show on Facebook as it was happening: "I worshiping at the temple of dub step - a James Blake concert in the very civilized Lincoln Theater. Gorgeous sound, but this show is sleepy! Probably should not have bought this ticket. I thought it would be the amazing dance party I saw him play a couple years ago. At least I got an awesome seat in the front. Sometimes it pays off to go to a show alone."

James Blake, Lincoln Theater, 6-12-14

James Blake, Lincoln Theater, 6-12-14

What I meant is that there was an almost religious quality to the music that night. The first half the the set was haunting, spare, soulful, and yes, slow. By the time I was ready to leave (it was a school night!) the tempo was just starting to change. I stayed for 2 songs that were progressively more dance-able than anything prior. I think if I'd stayed until the very end it would have turned into the dance party I remembered. 

One thing that really surprised me about this show was the exceptional diversity of the audience. James Blake appeals to every demographic, apparently. Very cool, but I wouldn't have guessed that.  

I arrived late, so I missed the opener entirely.

Air Traffic Controller, June 7, 2014 at Iota

I have been wanting to see Air Traffic Controller for more than a year, ever since I heard "You Know Me" from their 2012 album NORDO. They've been a band since 2009 or so, but they started to really break out last year. I really thought they were more established than it turns out they are. They are entirely professional as performers - excellent live, very engaging and talented. It would have easily had been a favorite concert of the year for me if I hadn't just received some worrying news about Eric's health (further testing determined it's a minor issue, but it sounded VERY scary when we first heard it.) So I was distracted. We did have seats though, which is rare and very appreciated.

Air Traffic Controller, Iota, 6-7-14

Air Traffic Controller, Iota, 6-7-14

I was amazed that so few people were there to see them. They are a little like Decemberists or other pseudo-folk indie acts. The vocals are great, and I love several songs on their album. They were a top favorite of mine in 2013. Good news for you, though - they are coming back to the DC area at Iota on Friday, August 22, 2014.  Iota is at the Clarendon/Courthouse metro stop, if you don't know. It's about as small as the name states, but a great venue all the same. Tickets are day-of only and usually about $10 cash.