SF was ablaze on Halloween night during Doja Cat’s first stop on tour

In a phenomenal first show in her first-ever arena tour, Doja Cat electrified and spooked San Francisco’s Chase Center on Halloween night. 

The Grammy-winning American rapper and singer, whose real name is Amala Dlamini, put on an eerie yet enchanting performance on Tuesday in the sold-out venue, which was packed with thousands of festive fans. The stands were filled with every type of creature and character imaginable: goblins, princesses and even some cows, in an homage to one of the first viral singles that put Doja Cat on the charts, “MOOO!” 

The artist opened The Scarlet Tour’s five-act show with “WYM Freestyle” and “Demons,” sending the crowd ballistic. During the sinister introduction, a giant spider appeared through flashing lights, accompanied by her band’s heavy beat of “Demons.” Doja Cat then appeared in a slick, black bodysuit and jacket, dancing and strutting as she raged and shouted the lyrics, “How my demons look?” 

Fans had mixed feelings when the single “Demons” was released on Sept. 1. “This is legitimately terrifying and I love it,” one user wrote on social media about the song, which is on Doja Cat’s latest album, “Scarlet.” The controversy around the star’s shift to a darker persona in recent months has led to some characterizations around “devil-worshiping” and being “evil.” Doja Cat has been unapologetic about her artistry, and even reveled in it on Tuesday night in San Francisco. 

The opening number was exactly what I wanted — defiant, confident, fierce and perfect for a spooky occasion. She continued with “Agora Hills,” a more relaxed track from that same album that has also gone viral on TikTok. 

The set list at Chase Center featured many live debuts. The show transitioned into its second act with “Attention,” a popular single from the new album in which Doja Cat addresses her haters. The sedating and somewhat creepy (in the best way) guitar work on the studio version was bolstered live by some pretty, minor key piano playing and high-pitched, bloodcurdling choral singing in one of the best performances of the night.

The immersive visuals were jaw-dropping and included footage of Doja Cat’s piercing stare as she’s rotating in circles. The stage then lit up with a heart-stopping beat drop, fireworks and red smoke as dancers ran back and forth in long, dark cloaks. 

The power of Doja Cat’s voice shone during the second half of the show, when the star sat down for a few quieter songs, including “Often” and her cover of Hiatus Kaiyote’s “Red Room.” 

As she sang the line, “Feels like I’m inside a flower,” Doja Cat took a moment to stop and smile at the audience, causing the whole arena to cheer. 

Elsewhere her interaction with the crowd was minimal. That smile may have been the only time she acknowledged the audience. But fans didn’t seem upset at the artist’s lack of conversation, being thoroughly entertained with her rapping, singing, dancing and on-stage theatrics. 

The show included all the classics that have made Doja Cat a superstar over the last few years, including “Woman,” “Say So,” “Get Into It (Yuh),” and “Need to Know,” which she performed alone on stage. But the extravagant stage production soon returned  — including a giant eyeball, lengthy red ribbons that draped from the high ceilings, fireworks and a V-shape of fire during her closer, “Wet Vagina.” 

The artist will perform next at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thursday.