Girls swoon, record falls for Justin Bieber

EVERETT — The near-deafening squeal coming from Comcast Arena on Tuesday night?

That was just another reaction to Bieber Fever.

Green laser lights shot out over the sold-out crowd of 8,588 as Justin Bieber rose from below the stage in a cloud of smoke.

The audience erupted into ear-splitting bliss as he opened his set with “Love Me.” The track is one of the many bright R&B songs that helped Bieber top the Billboard charts.

“You guys are the best,” Bieber said to screams. “I love performing for my fans. But you know what I love the most? I love seeing you guys smile. Because when you smile, I smile.”

The Everett show broke the attendance record for Comcast Arena, venue officials said. There have been other sell-outs there, but the stage configuration of the Bieber show allowed more seating than any concert in the arena’s seven-year history. That marks just another success in Bieber’s quick rise to fame.

A few years ago, Bieber was just another unknown kid in Ontario, Canada, posting videos to YouTube. A talent agent spotted him online and eventually lined up an audition with Usher. The R&B superstar helped Bieber sign a recording contract.

Now 16, Bieber has two platinum albums under his belt and is, well, setting records in Everett.

The rags-to-riches story fuels the devotion of fans including Makalie Zdenek, 15, and her friend Taylor Grant, 16. The teenagers drove with their mothers more than 400 miles from Plains, Mont., to see Bieber in Everett.

“It was the closest concert,” said Makalie.

Like dozens of others at the show, the girls wore handmade T-shirts. Theirs were purple — Bieber’s favorite color — and said “True Belieber.”

Part of Bieber’s appeal is his cute, clean-cut image, they said. Even his mop-top looks impeccably conditioned.

“Everyone thinks he sings like a girl, but I don’t know, I like his voice,” Makalie said.

The girls were considering buying a couple of $35 T-shirts. They weren’t alone. Hundreds swarmed merchandise booths. Bieber is a brisk business, after all.

A bracelet with a heart-shaped charm ran $20. Posters of the singer giving a come-hither look were $10. A commemorative lanyard and souvenir laminate was $15.

“All you have to say is, ‘Pandemonium,’” said Austin Wright, escorting his 12-year-old sister at one of the booths.

Inside the auditorium, thousands of the girls gave ear-vibrating shrieks whenever the lights dimmed. They cheered for opening acts the Stunners and Sean Kingston. They held their arms up in rapturous glee for Bieber.

The mood was more sedate in the arena’s parents lounge.

There, Michelle Adie was reading the novel “Windless Summer” and sipping on complimentary lemonade. The Monroe mother was among dozens of parents who lacked Bieber fever.

Adie had a ticket but gave it to her daughter’s friend.

“I don’t think I can sit through that,” Adie said. “Her friend was more than happy.”

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com

Chart topper

The top 10 concert draws at Comcast Arena, by paid attendance, since it opened in 2003.

8,588: Justin Bieber, July 2010

8,394: Tool, December 2007

8,260: Cher, January 2005

8,053: Blue Man Group, February 2007

7,961: Carrie Underwood, May 2010

7,580: The Jonas Brothers, February 2008

7,754: Black Eyed Peas, May 2006

7,571: Bette Midler, December 2004

7,560: The Cure, August 2004

7,547: Rod Stewart, April 2004

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo cameras go live to curb speeding on Speedway

Starting Friday, an automated traffic camera system will cover four blocks of Mukilteo Speedway. A 30-day warning period is in place.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Here’s who filed for the primary election in Snohomish County

Positions with three or more candidates will go to voters Aug. 5 to determine final contenders for the Nov. 4 general election.

Students from Explorer Middle School gather Wednesday around a makeshift memorial for Emiliano “Emi” Munoz, who died Monday, May 5, after an electric bicycle accident in south Everett. (Aspen Anderson / The Herald)
Community and classmates mourn death of 13-year-old in bicycle accident

Emiliano “Emi” Munoz died from his injuries three days after colliding with a braided cable.

Danny Burgess, left, and Sandy Weakland, right, carefully pull out benthic organisms from sediment samples on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Got Mud?’ Researchers monitor the health of the Puget Sound

For the next few weeks, the state’s marine monitoring team will collect sediment and organism samples across Puget Sound

Everett postal workers gather for a portrait to advertise the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County letter carriers prepare for food drive this Saturday

The largest single-day food drive in the country comes at an uncertain time for federal food bank funding.

Everett
Everett considers ordinance to require more apprentice labor

It would require apprentices to work 15% of the total labor hours for construction or renovation on most city projects over $1 million.

A person walks past Laura Haddad’s “Cloud” sculpture before boarding a Link car on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 in SeaTac, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sound Transit seeks input on Everett bike, pedestrian improvements

The transit agency is looking for feedback about infrastructure improvements around new light rail stations.

A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a 50 percent SAF drop-in jet fuel, right, puts off less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sustainable aviation fuel center gets funding boost

A planned research and development center focused on sustainable aviation… Continue reading

Dani Mundell, the athletic director at Everett Public Schools, at Everett Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Everett Public Schools to launch girls flag football as varsity sport

The first season will take place in the 2025-26 school year during the winter.

Clothing Optional performs at the Fisherman's Village Music Festival on Thursday, May 15 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Everett gets its fill of music at Fisherman’s Village

The annual downtown music festival began Thursday and will continue until the early hours of Sunday.

Seen here are the blue pens Gov. Bob Ferguson uses to sign bills. Companies and other interest groups are hoping he’ll opt for red veto ink on a range of tax bills. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)
Tesla, Netflix, Philip Morris among those pushing WA governor for tax vetoes

Gov. Bob Ferguson is getting lots of requests to reject new taxes ahead of a Tuesday deadline for him to act on bills.

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard
A new law in Washington will assure students are offered special education services until they are 22. State Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, a special education teacher, was the sponsor. He spoke of the need for increased funding and support for public schools at a February rally of educators, parents and students at the Washington state Capitol.
Washington will offer special education to students longer under new law

A new law triggered by a lawsuit will ensure public school students… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.