by Josh McCann

“I’m so grateful that all of you are here,” Demi Lovato told the capacity crowd in Columbus, Ohio on a Monday night. The fans in Nationwide Arena cheered as the sensational pop star broke into her songs off of her latest album, which set the tone for the night.

Demi is currently touring behind her 2025 album, “It’s Not That Deep,” which featured a return to dance pop. She’s in a good place with her music. On the day of the album release last October, she posted on Instagram saying, “This album has been such a joyful and fun time in my life.”

I was in the pit, next to the end of the runway. Yeah, I can’t believe I was that close. Was this really happening?! The arena started to fill up. The anticipation before a show is always one of my favorite parts of the night. Fans around me were thrilled.

“I’ve seen her before,” the girl next to me said.

“It’s my first time seeing her,” I said. “I’ve always wanted to see her live.”

“Oh its unbelievable,” another girl said.

But other fans have been there from the start.

“I saw her with the Jonas Brothers,” one girl said. She drove from West Virginia.

“I’ve seen her 10 times!” another girl proudly said.

Most of the crowd looked to be in their 30s. There were also younger fans that weren’t even born when she released “Confident.” We’re at the point where fans are bringing their kids to experience the raw vocal power that they themselves witnessed as teenagers. As for the merch lines, they were long (just like every concert merch line these days) but it moved very quickly.

Opening act Adela put on a fiery set. She’s also a professional ballet dancer and has the potential to be a breakout star, with her Tate McRae vibe and moves, all the having her own style.

At 9pm the house lights went down. Fans took out their phones as the big screen showed Demi backstage dressed in a black one piece with dark shades. She strutted out on stage like a model, escorted by backup dancers, the beat of her single “Fast” pulsating through the arena. It showcased the vibe and tone for the night.

“Nationwide is on your side,” Demi joked with the crowd in-between songs, referring to the arena’s name. She pointed the mic towards the crowd, everyone sang the famous jingle. Maybe she’ll be their newest spokesperson!

She went into her classic hits. “Sorry Not Sorry” brought the energy. She walked to the end of the runway, clapped her hands, the crowd sang to the infectious beat.

“Tell Me You Love Me” had Demi’s vocals echoing through the arena, the gospel tinged song sent chills down my spine, and I’m sure everyone else’s too.

The new songs sounded great. “Let You Go” is one of the best tracks off the album. It really shined live. Demi stood near the mic, belted out the chorus. “Here All Night” had flashing lights—she commanded the stage and turned the arena into her own dance club. I glanced around. Fans smiled, danced, and took photos.

“Skyscraper” was a powerful moment. She sang with grit (and she has a lot of it). What. A. Voice. I looked at the girl next to me. Both of us shook our heads in awe.

Another cool moment was when she sang “Ghost” from the top of the big screens.

The encore featured “Sorry To Myself.” It’s another new track. The album is about not being deep, but this one goes deep. Demi sang the chorus which features personal lyrics, “Sorry for the starving, sorry for the burnout, sorry for that ex who always broke me down,” referencing her past struggles. It showed how she can take her past pain and turn it into a fantastic upbeat song. It was a cathartic moment. Very cool song too.

The show closed with “Cool For The Summer.” One of her biggest hits. At some point every summer this song will pop into my mind—it’s a good thing! She moved to each end of the stage with the catchy beat, hitting the chorus and taking the show home. Fans cheered and took photos. Demi and her backup dancers took a bow. She waved to the crowd and smiled. The fans wanted more, including myself, but it was a Monday night and I had to work in the morning. At least I’ll carry these memories with me.