Concert review: Demi Lovato, Vector Arena

Demi Lovato performs live on stage for fans at Crown Theatre in Perth, Australia. Photo / Getty Image

Fervent fans caught in a crush down the front of the former Disney star and X Factor USA judge's frenetic show in Auckland

Former Disney star Demi Lovato proved that she's not just a pop princess but a rock queen at her concert last night at Auckland's Vector Arena.

The Heart Attack hit maker brought her powerhouse voice and firecracker attitude as she played to her New Zealand fans for the first time. From the moment she walked on stage, Lovato had the crowd in the palm of her hand - but not before a team of Maori performers lead the room in a haka.

After bursting through a string of songs at breakneck speed, Lovato tried her best to hush "her kiwis" - urging fans to calm down to take five steps back so she could continue the show.

It was a sensible move as fans in the front row were getting crushed against the barrier and having to be pulled out by security.

Even before the show started at least 40 people had to be removed from the pit, a number of whom were already unconscious.

Later in her set Lovato also took a moment to talk about the Bruce Jenner interview - in which the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star announced to the world that he would be transitioning from a man into a woman.

Known to be a big supporter of the LGBT community, Lovato praised Jenner as a hero saying "whether you agree with it or not, he probably saved so many lives and educated so many people [with his honest interview]". Lovato also dedicated the song Warrior to the former Olympian.

Before the song the American singer also touched on her own struggle - which lead to a stint in rehab - reminding her fans that they are "blessed" and "privileged" and need to be grateful for the things they have.

As for the music, Lovato performed a mix of songs, from an acoustic reworking of her very first single Get Back, to a number of rock-heavy songs including The Middle, where the singer smashed down hard on a drum during the beginning of the song.

The star strutted across stage, pumping her fist in the air, head-banging her black cropped hair, twisting and shaking her hips through I Really Don't Care and the energetic Fire Starter.

Lovato even strapped on a guitar - strumming delicately to Don't Forget, which morphed into Catch Me.

Calming down a little, she sat on a stool to deliver slower, soulful songs that showed off her vocals. The passion of her hit Skyscraper showed through Lovato's face as she let out amazing vocal embellishments.

Lovato was backed by two back-up singer-dancers, as well as a full band on raised platforms behind her - it often felt like Lovato was fronting a pop-rock band rather than it being a just solo show.

The audience erupted as Lovato sang Let It Go from Disney's smash hit movie Frozen and the room turned into a jumping dance party for her electro-pop encore song Neon Lights.

Playing for just under an hour and a half Demi Lovato's whirlwind show short-lived - it would have been too easy to keep dancing all night.

Who: Demi Lovato
Where: Vector Arena, Auckland
When: Sunday, April 26

-nzherald.co.nz