REVIEW: Katy Perry at Bumbershoot
Katy Perry
Katy Perry kissed a girl — and the world didn’t come to an end.
The perky, sassy MTV star opened the Bumbershoot mainstage at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon with a colorful, hourlong set that teased and smirked its way through Perry’s short list of songs, mostly from “One of the Boys,” her 2008 major-label debut album.
As her hit song “I Kissed a Girl” suggests, Perry’s show “felt so wrong . . . and felt so right” at the same time.
There was plenty of energy in the set, as well as plenty of cool props, including two pink flamingos, a giant strawberry-shaped beach ball, a backdrop that splashed up her name, and a band dressed in white suits. And Perry was dressed in a swimsuit with fluffy bottom, bare legs exposed to the cool Seattle air.
But the Santa Barbara native is still finding her way in the world of pop. A new album due in the coming months may add dimension and sophistication to the pop phenomenon’s excessively perky demeanor.
With obvious parallels to Alanis Morissette and No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani, Perry is seems to have the right stuff for another big year on the pop charts.
Declaring Queen her favorite band, Perry paid tribute to the group and to the late Freddie Mercury with a heartfelt version of “Don’t Stop Me Now,” which could be a theme song of sorts for the singer.
Perry wrapped up her set with a high-stepping, crowd-pleasing version of “I Kissed a Girl.” The deliriously happy, tightly packed crowd in the infield responded by bouncing up and down. It was one of the great moments of Bumbershoot’s first day.
Today’s Bumbershoot lineup includes The Dusty 45’s, The Dutchess and the Duke, Central Services’ Board of Education, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Michael Franti and mainstage headliner Jason Mraz. For a complete lineup, visit the Bumbershoot Web site.
