Lily Allen Celebrates 4/20 at Roseland Ballroom
Posted by anthoNYC on April 21, 2009
Lily Allen at Roseland, 4.20.09
I first saw Lily Allen at the much more intimate Filmore/Irving Plaza nearly 2 years ago to the date, way before the glossy and fabulous makeover you see today. A few friends of mine saw the show at Warsaw days later when she asked everyone for the number of a pot dealer (I was sort of expecting the same as yesterday was 4/20)…but this is not the Lily Allen of today.
I almost missed the entire show as a whole, the wind + rain combo in NYC was working against me but at the last minute ended up going right after Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head concluded. I don’t know how to give this show an unbiased review after seeing her in a smaller venue. I’ve seen Gwen Stefani tear the house down with No Doubt years ago, The Prodigy create chaos…and then Lily Allen do her sweet pop thing last night to the sold out Roseland Ballroom audience.
I’m not trying to discredit Lily Allen at all I actually really enjoy her music, but I think a few gigs at a smaller venue would make more sense. With all this said, onto the show. A svelte Lily sported a bobbed haircut and kept everything to a minimal as far as theatrics, visuals, etc. The whole show fell on the shoulders of Lily who had the challenge of commanding the crowd and the stage. Although seemingly short, highlights of last night’s set included: chain smoking onstage, a Junior’s cheesecake eating competition with 2 concertgoers, a Kid Cudi dance break, and of course my favorite tunes from It’s Not Me It’s You: Not Fair and Fuck You. Low points include ruffian security (toward others) and the inevitable Womanizer cover.
Overall it was a good show for what it was, but it is only human to prefer the bad Lily Allen of yesterday. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was the venue, maybe it was Lily, but I’ll displace the blame much like Allen and say It’s Not Me It’s You.
MP3: Lily Allen – Not Big or zShare
MP3: Lily Allen – Straight to Hell (Clash Cover) or zShare
Kayla C said
This article sounds very, much like the writer wasn’t at the show at all. It has little or nothing to do with Lily Allen’’s performance. Instead the writer has made it out to be a personal vendetta for Lily Allen because, she is not the girl, that once had exaggerated tabloid stories written about her. People do not attend lily Allen concerts for a JR. cheesecake eating contest (but that sounds like fun) Let’s not blame Lily Allen for the weather, at a concert you sound like you didn’t go to. From the photo’s it looks like people had a very good time, again.. it’s a shame that you weren’t there. Lily Allen was, so it’s not her it’s you.
anthoNYC said
Kayla-
I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your feedback on this post. I was at the show and really didn’t say anything negative about it beside the fact that it was hard to connect to Lily in such a large venue. I actually like the new album better so it’s not that the music sucks or her stage performance was lagging, the fact of the matter is that her show is much better suited for a smaller venue. Hope you get to catch her on the road to prove me wrong. Keep me posted
anthoNYC
m.s. said
i don’t understand how you can make the leap from “review” to “personal vendetta”. sounds like someone has their panties in a bunch because lily didn’t get an “A” grade. big deal. we all know concert reviews are in part relative to the author’s experience. i totally understand preferring to see lily in a smaller venue. she doesn’t have the stage presence to electrify large crowds.
NICK said
I think Lily was awesome, granted, it was my first time seeing her. She sounded great, she looked like she was having fun…and hell, I was too! I traveled from CT to see the show and had a killer time.
I posted some vids here: http://thelittlestwinslow.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/lily-allen-roseland-ballroom-4-20-09/
Kayla C said
Lily Allen is set for the Glastonbury Festival, Best festival & v Festival, these are large venues. and she does well.
anonymous said
It does come off sounding kind of like a mediocre cheesecake eating contest.