In 2013, CBS Radio began the annual We Can Survive concert at the Hollywood Bowl with headliner Katy Perry. By the following year, the show had turned into one of the biggest pop lineups outside of the Grammy Awards and Jingle Ball, featuring Taylor Swift, Pharrell, Ariana Grande and more.
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Where would the show go in year three? Would it continue to grow into a pop juggernaut? By the end of last night’s show, the question was answered with a resounding ‘yes’ as special guest headliner Rihanna took the stage to close out what had already been a star-laden night that included Sam Smith’s last U.S. appearance before he returns to the studio to follow up his smash debut, In The Lonely Hour.
The evening began early for a select group of lucky fans as 5 Seconds Of Summer came out around 4:30 local time for the Citibank soundcheck, in which the quintet first sat on the front of the stage answering a few questions from AMP DJ Booker, then played a mini-set for the excited throng all packed into the front pit.
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Just over an hour later the band was back onstage to kick off the night with a raucous selection of songs, including a rousing “She’s Kinda Hot” and “Jet Black Heart.”
From there it was like the Billboard charts come to life, as Demi Lovato was next to take the stage for a few songs — highlighted by the debut American performance of “For You.” That led into Nick Jonas’ varied set, featuring his guitar playing on “Jealous” and a mashup of “Teacher” and Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison.”
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The star power of the lineup was brought to light again as Smith, who last played two sold-out nights at the Forum in L.A., came out fourth. Surrounding Smith’s announcement that he would be heading to the studio for album number two, he brought the powerful and emotive vocals fans have come to love on songs like “I’m Not the Only One” and “Stay With Me.”
With Smith having kicked both the wattage of the stars and the energy of the venue up a notch, Maroon 5 was next to take the stage, following the same formula as the rest of the artists, playing a few hits that electrified the audience. Among the Maroon hits were “Moves Like Jagger” and a sing-along “This Love.”
It says a lot about the continuing presence of EDM that with established arena headliners Smith and Maroon 5 in the building, Calvin Harris was officially second billed. But Harris, now having graduated to a festival headliner, showed why he had that spot from the opening “Feel So Close.” With hits such as “I Need Your Love,” Harris had the whole venue dancing, building the energy up for 2015 chart king and omnipresent festival headliner the Weeknd.
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The recent Billboard cover star did not disappoint with a mix that of course featured a Bowl-shaking version of “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills,” as well as earlier hits like “House of Balloons.”
Given the Weeknd’s current reign over the pop landscape, his set alone would have solidified We Can Survive as a major happening on the pop concert scene, but the show was not done. Coming out in a pinstripe coat over a bustier, Rihanna sent the Bowl into a frenzy with her opening “Bitch Better Have My Money.” Other highlights included “We Found Love” and “Umbrella.” “Diamonds” proved the closing soundtrack as the night concluded with the fireworks show it has ended with the last two years as well.