Demi Lovato feels the love in San Jose
Demi Lovato’s current road show is called the “Tell Me You Love Me” world tour.
And that’s pretty much what the 11,000-plus fans did during the star’s performance on Wednesday at the SAP Center in San Jose.
The crowd showered the 25-year- old vocalist with affection from the moment she took the stage, crooning a poignant version of “You Don’t Do It for Me Anymore” from her sixth studio album, last year’s “Tell Me You Love Me.”
As the main set drew to a close some 16 songs later with “Smoke and Mirrors,” the fans were still going strong — and so was their hero.
Lovato was in good form throughout much of the night, even though some of the segments of the show— which was broken into five acts plus an encore — were better than others.
Lovato was at her best during the slower segments, where her personality and voice had the time and space to shine, while she sometimes seemed a bit lost and overwhelmed by the big dance numbers.
Following the striking opener, Lovato climbed aboard a therapist’s couch and detailed her “Daddy Issues,” a throwaway cut from the new album that sounds like a bad Britney Spears song. We’d get another poor Britney knock- off a few songs later with “Sexy Dirty Love.”
Fortunately, things improved as Lovato moved through the more-memorable pop tunes “Heart Attack” (from Lovato’s fourth studio album, 2013’s “Demi”) and “Give Your Heart a Break” (from her third studio album, 2011’s “Unbroken”). She even ventured out into the crowd at one point, walking along the arena floor, dressed in a boxer’s robe, as she pre- pared to sing “Confident.”
The third act was definitely memorable, as she appeared out of the darkness laying on a plush white bed located on a smaller, second stage erected in the back of the arena floor. With an electric guitar in her hands, Lovato slowed things down with a three-song segment highlighted by “Concentrate.”
The show hit its peak a bit later, when Lovato was back on the main stage and took a seat at a black piano. It was the most intensely passionate part of the concert, both in terms of what she said and what she sang. She delivered absolutely gorgeous versions of “Warrior” and “Father,” as well as pleaded with the audience to text donations to help provide transgender youth with mental health services in Northern California. Caitlyn Jenner was scheduled to take the stage with Lovato around this time (approximately 10 p.m.), to encourage fans to donate, but, for whatever reason, it didn’t happen.
DJ Khaled was also on the bill and delivered a fun set filled with abbreviated version of big hits as well as plenty of personality. Highlights included “All I Do Is Win” and “All the Way Up.”
He was joined onstage at one point by Oakland R&B singer Kehlani.
Kehlani also performed her own set to open the show, impressing fans with songs off her studio album, 2017’s “SweetSexySavage.”