Music

Review: Lily Allen has No Shame

By Alli Hayes
@bunnie604

After a decade of a fuck-you-very-much mentality, vulnerable lyrics and genre fusing, Lily Allen graced Vancouver on the last stop of her No Shame Tour. Her latest album emits a more-down tempo expression than her previous tracks on Alright, Still or Sheezus, so it was exciting to see her set come together with a story-like flow, showing off what she’s created in the past 10 years.

Kicking off the set with “Come on Then,” Allen told the sold-out crowd that she had been sick and was fighting to keep her voice. Her energy was being tested, but as she dipped into 2007 hits  “Smile” and “Knock Em Out,” the room got hyped on the classics.

Adding some new wave RnB into the mix, the Sheezus singer covered Lykke Li’s “Deep End,” setting a trap mood for the mixed-generation crowd to groove to.

Her lime-green, glow-in-the-dark eyeliner, by the way, is everything we ever wanted.

Photo by Alli Hayes

The mother of three became tender as she sang “Family Man,” and it’s easy to see why.

Two miscarriages, a marriage break-down, a four year music-making hiatus, Allen came back with heat served on crushed ice for her audience.

Despite No Shame’s chillwave sensibilities, Allen harnessed in some recognizable talent: the UK’s own Giggs appears on the album, along with dancehall legend Lady Chann.

Allen encored the show with “Trigger Bang,” and a dedication to Donald Trump with—you guessed it—“Fuck You.” The expletive song was originally an ode to George W. Bush.

Lily Allen’s show was everything my fifteen-year-old self could have ever asked for. I held space for my high school icon as a grown-ass woman, and the journey she’s navigated. It came as no surprise she sold out the Vogue Theatre on Friday, November 9.

Alli is a wildcard. Faux fur is her wingman. She is constantly moved by art, cool parties, and independent film, and continues to create her own projects. She wishes her photographic memory did her Instagram more justice.  Check out her blog at thewildcardwins.com.