Have No Fear, Lily’s Here!

This week, my always accurate Facebook horoscope informed me that I would reacquaint myself with an old hobby and realize how much I missed it. Whether that “old hobby” was attending concerts or listening to a Lily Allen album, either way, it turned out to be true.

Wednesday night marked Lily Allen’s 2-year return to Toronto, down to the month. And may I say, it was a triumphant one. Toronto town was her final stop on the month-long tour in support of her sophomore album It’s Not Me, It’s You.

I first saw Lily perform in April 2007 to a relatively more subdued crowd at The Phoenix, but that intimate show paled in comparison to what I witnessed this year at the monstrous Sound Academy. Playing to a sold-out crowd approximately 10 million times the size of The Phoenix, everyone was much livelier and more eager to to be in attendance.

The show started right on schedule, as a trim, short-haired Lily bopped out in an oversized hoodie and high tops, with a tight black dress underneath that required the use of Spanx.

Lily played an hour and 15 minute set, singing every song off the new album, including a few from her first Alright, Still (Everything’s Wonderful, LDN, Littlest Things, Smile), and Oh My God, her collaboration with pal Mark Ronson. It was like being at a sing-alone, with everyone enthusiastically karaoke-ing “fuck you very much” along with Lily, as per requested.

I felt really good after this performance. Nothing cleanses your soul like yelling “fuck you” at the top of your lungs with no repercussions.

From my immediate surroundings, I determined the all ages crowd to be older than I had originally expected. I thought I’d be the lonely loner standing in a corner by myself amidst a sea of 8-12 year olds, but situated by the bar, there were only 20-somethings. I overheard a girl beside me say Lily’s track “22” was about her, in regards to a song about society’s view of a girl’s life being over by age 30. So to sum it up, I felt young.

I went to the show expecting a nice, mellow performance, but what I got was a high-energy, electro-infused spectacle, which included the melody of Kid Cudi’s Day ‘N’ Nite meshing into a cover of Britney Spears’ single Womanizer. It was the last song of the night, and by this point I was sold. This was just icing on the cake.

If you weren’t a fan of Lily’s before, you certainly walked out in awe of her stage presence and energy, if not the skill of drinking 3+ beers and smoking cigarettes during a set. Hey, some artists get wasted before the show, why not have fun on stage?

You can’t help but smile while watching her perform, be it because of her quirky lyrics or bubbly personality and random banter. The show started off on a slower note, but kicked up middle to end, and I was definitely not bored.

Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head opened up the show. I only saw them play about 2 ½ songs, but they seemed like a really cool, live band. Lily brought them out on stage at the end of the show and proceeded to playfully punch them. Evidence below.

(‘Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head’, and a multitude of others.)

Some people were apparently influenced by this, because a fight broke out in the parking lot, post-show. I witnessed one perpetrator getting slammed to the ground by two security guards as I passed by. Who brawls at a Lily Allen concert? Good job, guys.

Since this was Lily’s final show, appropriately, a celebration was held backstage. Later that night, Lily hit up her Twitter to inform us of an ice-cream fight that cost her 2 grand! That’s how it’s done, party people.

Lily Allen is an avid Twitter-er (Tweeter?), and has been hiding tickets before each gig, then posting clues on her account as to where they can be found. I was lurking “twatter” from home and came to the conclusion that 2 sets were hidden around the U of T campus. Did anyone participate in the pre-show Twitter ticket scavenger hunt? Dish and details, please!

She also updated with a slam at the always kind Perez Hilton, a big fuck you at him for reporting her incompetence of getting through a tour. Lily Allen said she has not read one bad review of her shows, and this one will not change that.

Rock on, Lilz!

Honorable mentions: All the large ‘n’ in charge folk who insist on standing in front of me at concerts. I got stuck behind a gentleman who was busy showing his buddy a photo on his iPhone of a lingerie-clad women taking a pic of herself. I was apparently also located in a high-traffic area, because I was constantly being moved over to make way for beer-wielding folk and frustrated bathroom goers. Oh, the sacrifices.

Words and Photos by Melania Fedyna