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Big Time Rush Turn Phoenix Into a 38-Song Pop Marathon
August 24, 2025 • by Phyoe Thaung
A warm August night settled over Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 23, 2025, as Big Time Rush brought their tour to the desert. What could have been just another summer pop show quickly turned into a celebration of nostalgia and connection.
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Stephen Kramer Glickman — forever known to fans as Gustavo Rocque from the Big Time Rush TV series — opened the evening with a set that was anything but predictable. Instead of original material, he leaned into a string of left-field covers, flipping them into rock-driven sing-alongs. Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” was reimagined with guitar crunch and heavy drums, while Britney Spears’ “Toxic” became a campy, high-voltage crowd-pleaser. The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” predictably had the whole amphitheater singing in unison, but it was his cover of Ariana Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends” that cut the deepest, pulling the noise back into something raw and moving. He closed with Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” a bold and joyfully messy finale that left the crowd on their feet. Glickman leaned into humor and charisma, proving that an opener can set the tone for a night if they’re willing to take risks.
Katelyn Tarver followed with an entirely different kind of energy. Her six-song set was sleek, polished pop that traded Glickman’s chaos for warmth and vulnerability. Songs like “Cinematic” felt tailor-made for the open-air amphitheater, her voice carrying clear and strong in the night air. “#1” drew the loudest cheers of her set, the kind of track that sticks even with those who didn’t know her music walking in. Tarver didn’t rely on spectacle — instead, her charm came through in the stories she told between songs and the way her vocals held the spotlight. The performance carried a quiet confidence, the kind that doesn’t shout for attention but leaves an impression that lingers.
By the time the lights dimmed again and the opening chords of the Big Time Rush theme song hit, the amphitheater erupted. Confetti blasted across the crowd as Kendall, James, Logan, and Carlos charged the stage, launching into what would become a 38-song marathon. Few pop acts could keep that kind of pace without showing cracks, but Big Time Rush made it look effortless. Their vocals were sharp, the choreography was tight, and the energy never dipped.
Early in the set, the band pulled VIP fans side stage — a small but memorable gesture that underscored their long-standing bond with supporters. Later, they took things even further, weaving through the audience mid-show and performing from a smaller stage at the back of the pavilion. For those songs, a stadium show suddenly felt like an intimate club gig, a reminder that the group hasn’t lost sight of what makes their fanbase tick.
The night was heavy on sing-alongs, with the crowd echoing every lyric, and the atmosphere buzzed with joy and nostalgia. For some, it was a return to the soundtrack of their childhood; for others, it was an introduction passed from one generation to the next. By the finale — more confetti, more cheers, more proof that they can still hold an audience — Big Time Rush had shown that they’re not just leaning on old memories. They’re a band capable of commanding a massive stage right now, with the polish and energy to back it up.
