Lily Allen
Stubb’s, Wednesday, March 14
In true diva fashion, Lily Allen, the UK’s latest pint-sized export, graced the stage 15 minutes behind schedule, but considering her longs-tanding bitterness toward the evening’s sponsor, NME, it’s a miracle she showed at all. While more ladylike than her sovereign counterpart, the oft-dubbed queen of MySpace called the magazine everything from “spineless cunts” to “assholes” in between playful jabs at her own family, “Nan, You’re a Window Shopper” and “Alfie.” Such is the appeal of the 21-year-old singer-songwriter; she balances the precocious and precious with honest pop tunes, but due to the colloquial manner of her presentation, it comes across live like a one-way conversation set to music. Backed by a full band, all in various shades of Gator polos, Allen, with a Budweiser and cigarette in hand, half-rapped her way through “LDN” and “Knock ‘Em Out,” the latter sounding like a feminine response to the Streets. Only her smash single, “Smile,” successfully roused the audience, due partly to the choreographed movement of her threepiece brass section. Say it ain’t so.
This article appears in March 16 • 2007.