There are two Katy Perry’s. The first exploded onto the music scene in 2008 with a song entitled “I Kissed a Girl.” She wears Geisha make-up at awards shows and her stage costumes include ice cream cone bras that shoot fireworks out into the audience. Her high profile romances include John Mayer (who seems to have dated everyone with the possible exception of Mother Teresa) and a brief yet confusing marriage to comedian Russell Brand. Then there is the other Katy Perry, the one you might consider the “girl next door.” She is the devout progeny of two Pentecostal ministers from California who began her singing career at the age of 13 in farmers markets, getting paid in avocados. Her songwriting skills are well known and several artists including Kelly Clarkson, Brittany Spears and Selena Gomez have recorded her songs. She is down-to-earth and adores her fans, especially the young girls who are in dire need of a strong female role model. So…which Katy will show up in concert this month when “The Prismatic World Tour” roars into the Prudential Center on Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12? Chances are, both, but expect the former Katy to be the one on high display as she continues to promote her newest release, PRISM, which debuted at number one on The Billboard 200 and remains in the Top Ten three months after release. The platinum album has given Katy her biggest ever single with “Roar”, while “Dark Horse” just became her lucky 13th Top Ten hit on The Billboard Hot 100. She is tied with Michael Jackson for most number one singles from a single album. Her tours are legendary. For this go-round the state-of-the art stage, specifically designed by Katy for THE PRISMATIC WORLD TOUR, allows her to get closer to her fans than ever before. The one-of-a-kind set design will provide concert-goers with a truly magical experience from every angle in the arena. Getting tickets might just be a foregone conclusion at tis time but there are ways, as always for the creative and resourceful fan. Or fanatic. There are no lengths to which a truly devoted “gurl” wouldn’t go to see her in the flesh. If you have a ticket already, consider yourself lucky. You get to see two Katy’s, and each one is a very special gem in this crazy world of artists who posture but don’t deliver. She brings it every time, with a ROAR that will be heard from Wildwood to Weehawken.
With Special Guest Capital Cities, a fabulous new band that my daughter and aspiring rock writer Tori recently interviewed at Brookdale Community College.
