Start pretty much on time, plough through the set list and take a farewell bow about an hour later – that’s the trend we’ve noticed at the recent spate of concerts, from Charli XCX to Meghan Trainor, and now Demi Lovato. We suppose it’s their attempt to cater to the tweens and teens, who turn up in hordes on a school night in a show of loyalty. But it’d be nice to see them stick around on stage a little longer, especially for Lovato, who has four albums under her belt. With her band and two backup singers, Lovato kicks off the show with ‘Really Don’t Care’, commanding the attention of all 3,000 fans, some of whom climb eagerly onto their chairs to catch a better glimpse of the singer. Despite the backdrop of music videos and swirling visuals, the massive stage looks a little empty, which would’ve overwhelmed any other amateur act, but not Lovato. The seasoned performer, who’s been comfortable in front of a crowd since her Disney days, works the crowd like it’s an intimate gig filled with close friends.
‘You guys are like little stars to me,’ she grins in response to kids screaming ‘I love you!’ with all the strength their tiny lungs can muster. It’s fascinating to watch her interact with the audience – she warmly encourages them to sing along and keeps the banter going with all the charm of a true Disney star. Speaking of the House of Mouse, ‘Let it Go’ definitely hit all the right notes with the fans, who scream along with the music… until it abruptly pauses. Lovato beckons to two adorable bespectacled girls and their eyes widen with the realisation that she wants them to join her on stage. Shy and awestruck, they follow her around like ducklings as she gently coaxes them to walk from one end of the stage to the other and wave to the crowd. It’s the sweetest thing.
Lovato seems to be big on spreading the love and inspiring her fans to stand up for the causes they believe in. ‘Make the world a better place!’ she declares, as she talks about how she spent her 21st birthday in Africa. It almost feels like we’re attending a motivational conference, the way she dedicates songs to people who’ve lost a loved one and lists the things she’s grateful for. Too bad the crowd is a tad too young to sit still and listen. When she slows things down with beautiful ballads like ‘Skyscraper’ and ‘Nightingale’, her powerhouse vocals shine through, mesmerising everyone, even the parents who are there just to chaperone their kids. Clearly, she’s completely at ease going from head-banging and sexy dance moves to stripped-down melodies that put her vocal chops front and center. By the time she gets to her one encore song, ‘Neon Lights’, everyone is on their feet, dancing in a frenzy to the catchy grooves and wishing the concert would last just a little longer.