THERE is no doubt Katy Perry is a superstar.
After almost 100 shows spanning 10 months to date, the Californian pop star showed no signs of slowing down when she took to the stage at Perth Arena last night for the first Australian show of her worldwide Witness: The Tour.
After 20 minutes of anticipation, the 33-year-old appeared on a floating star wearing a gold armour-like mini dress, boots and sunglasses, singing the title track of her fifth studio album Witness.
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“Are we ready for tonight,” she asked before jumping straight into her Roulette set with giant dice props, fireworks and confetti cannons.
“I am Katy Perth with a haircut – new and improved.”
Taking to the stage catwalk to welcome fans young and old, Perry said it was nice to be back in Australia.
“We always save the best for last and after over 90 shows we decided to finish strong in Australia,” she said.
She then launched into Dark Horse and Chained to the Rhythm.
“We might make this the best Tuesday night you’ve had in a long time,” Perry said before disappearing for her first costume change.
With her back-up singers taking centre stage, Perry returned with 2010 hit Teenage Dream.
She then removed her jacket to reveal her “light up brassiere” flashing the words “hot” and “cold” as an indication of the next hit to come.
But first Perry took a moment to acknowledge the “over 16,000” fans who had turned out mid-week and to talk about the unexpected cold weather before doing a yoga headstand on stage.
“I’ve done 97 shows. I’m so upside down. I should be sleeping,” she said.
“I just needed to get some blood to my head.
“I was starting to say some really strange things.
“For those of you that have not (come to a show before), I’m sorry and you’re welcome and you’re going to have a great time.”
The “jet lagged” Perry then donned her guitar to perform a run of hits with the iconic Hot n Cold melding into Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) followed by California Gurls.
The eccentricities continued when the Super Bowl Left Shark appeared on stage for a skit with Perry that felt it went a little too long and left the popstar asking for a meat pie at tonight’s show.
The show eventually continued with giant floating red lips appearing on stage for Perry’s 10-year-old hit I Kissed A Girl.
Things then slowed down with another scene and costume change for Deja Vu, Tsunami and E.T. before Bon Apptit.
“Are you still with me Perth,” Perry asked after returning to the stage atop a floating planet wearing a sequin gown and beaded headpiece.
With guitar in hand, Perry continued the slower tempo playing Wide Awake while sailing across the crowd before “coming back to Earth” to acknowledge the hundreds of illuminated cat ears being worn across the venue – the KatyCats.
“Perth, you are the most west and I’m from the west coast of my country so I feel a kinship with you,” she said leading into love song Into Me You See and one for all her “gorgeous goddesses” – Power.
“We’re not done yet Perth. If it’s alright we’ll do a couple more,” Perry called out after another outfit change for Part Of Me.
Another chat to some young fans, with a quip at her “strange” home currently “off its axis”, before crowd favourite Swish Swish.
Then enter Wade – husband and father-of-two who was pulled up on stage to take on Perry in a Perth versus Los Angeles basketball match.
After losing in best of three, Perry continued the latest hit, mashed up with Fatboy Slim’s Star 69, before gearing up for 2013 hit and finale Roar.
But fans knew the show was not complete and after just a couple of minutes, Perry returned gliding through on a floating clock for Pendulum before ending the two-hour show on a bang with Firework.
Perry performs again in Perth tonight before jetting around the country for another 12 Australian shows, wrapping up in Auckland on August 21.
Tickets are still available from www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849.
Fans can also catch her at Myer at Westfield Carousel today from 2pm to 3pm.