Lily Allen @ Webster Hall: The Top Feels So Much Better Than The Bottom

Yes, the illustrious Lily Allen. The fantasticly amazing Lily Allen. The amazing fantastic Lily Allen. Roll model to a new group of teenager girls and heartthrob to music-loving little boys.

I had a little wave of satisfaction wash over me at the end of her show last night. While I passed on her debut show at Hiro Ballroom and then passed on the Plug Awards last night, I made the right decision to catch her now because she played a full set and was in top form. The Hiro show cost $25, this one was $25. Hence, I'm a winner. Check out this set list:

• LDN
• Nan You're a Window Shopper (50 Cent cover)
• Knock 'Em Out
• Shame on You
• Littlest Things
• Cheryl Tweedy
• Everybody's Changing (Keane cover)
• Naive (Kooks cover)
• Not Big
• Absolutely Nothing
• Everything Is Wonderful
• Friend of Mine
• Friday Night
• Smile
• Encore: Blank Expression (Specials cover)
• Alfie

It was the highly entertaining show I was hoping for. Lily showed no signs of apprehension or nervousness -- taking shots or Jagermeister between songs and some quick draws of a cigarette. Furthermore, she knows how to work a crowd. She walks back and forth in front singing to individuals in crowd, smiling and winking to everyone. To me, during "Window Shopper" she grabbed her crotch and sang to me "And they throw in some K-Y just to ease up the friction." Yeah, that's pretty cool.

One of the things I've realized about why she became so popular so fast beyond her music is that she is who she is. She doesn't care about what others think. If she wants to talk about small dicks, she'll talk about it. If she wants to burp and laugh during songs, she'll do it. So I think people like her because you'd want Lily to be in your circle of friends.

What made this show fun was a full band with a horn section. Lily's music mixes early ska/dub, samples, rap lyrics and pop styles, so with the band there, it gives the music more immediacy. The show just would not work with a DJ spinning records and her on the mic. It shows the success she's earned in such a short period of time that she can bring a large group of musicians with her. One of my inner rules of live music is that you know you've hit the big time when you can introduce your back-up to music.

As many of you already know, Lily Allen joins a growing list of artists who've shot to popularity through blogs and a myspace page. At first, I had a knee jerk reaction to her demos she posted. They were catchy and had a pleasing groove to them, but some of the vocals were rough. I also figured that if she wasn't cute and attractive, no one would probably care about her. Then when Alright, Still came about last July, the production (from Mark Ronson, Greg Kurstin, Darren Lewis, Tunde Babalola) made the songs much better. It also became clear that the album had a theme about cheating boyfriends, boredom with the male population and the bullshit nature of life. It's sort of cynicism with a dance beat. Then again, I thought some of vocals were off track.

Now after seeing her life, I've come full circle and that she's a better singer now than when she made the album a year ago. I've seen and heard it before from emerging artists, in that they've become better at there jobs through touring and practices. So they are eager to get back to the studios to put out a kick ass second album. What Lily has done is created a sound where she can do pretty much any style she wants. If she wants to make full on dance tracks, she can. Maybe all straight forward ballads, something a little more mellow . The good news is that she's built to last and won't be a flash in the pan.

Back to the show, since I was upfront and all I had in front of me was a railing and the stage, I was pretty much focused on the show. It's funny that I had such a good time at Peter Bjorn and John, that I didn't take notice the crowd behind me was not liking it. So during the encore, I looked back during "Alfie" to see if people were waiving from side to side - not many. I make it a point not to chastise crowds, only to praise when I think a crowd added to the experience.

I do admit that when Lily came on at 9pm, I had already been waiting 2 1/2 hours inside Webster Hall with no opening act (sorry, DJs don't count) and an hour in line outside in 20 degree cold. I was not in the concert mood. Once the show came on, I forgot all about that.

So the Webster Hall crew told everyone no photographs or you'd be shot on site. Then when the show started, cameras where everywhere. I didn't risk it at first, but toward the end I snapped away when the coast was clear. My homies Bill for Sound Bites and Laura Modern Age have further thoughts.

   

For some reason, YouTube doesn't like my videos from my new camera. It cuts off after 4 seconds, anyone else had this problem? So I'm going with AOL Uncut until I figure out the problem.

This shot is for my man Thights Wide Shut, who must be Lily's No. 1 American fan and who did a great interview with her.

I don't know the deal with the signs at Webster Hall. What's with the backwards N? It must take a lot of effort to turn the N around. The sign probably looks correct to dyslexics.

Comments

[TERESA.]

I THINK THAT LILY IS SO FINE.

[Grant David]

LILY IS DAMN CUTE SHE'S MY ROSE

[big L]

she isn't very attractive..but her music is cute.

shes great!

[Katja F]

Her legs are huge - so's her mouth