Typically, Sundays—in my book—are reserved for errands, rest, and catching up on whatever critically-acclaimed series I am currently fixated on. This past Sunday night, however, an exception was made to catch Alice Phoebe Lou’s sold-out set at the Lodge Room.
Marking the debut of her three-night run at the historic venue, Alice was supported by Salami Rose Joe Louis, FKA Lindsay Olsen, an artist whose discography I was recently—and thankfully—made aware of.
Olsen’s enchanting vocals, layered against the backdrop of both playful and somber synths, set the tone for the night that soon followed—one of impeccable sound and palpable energy. Though it was my first time witnessing her perform live, the artist strikes as one who lays everything bare each time she sets foot on stage. At times, it felt as though we, as an audience, were invited into Olsen’s genre-less world and offered to stay the night. Her set, overall, was dynamic and compelling, stirring the crowd and sending bass ripples through the wooden floorboards.
Not long after, Alice graced the stage and was both greeted and jolted awake by a piercing, “I LOVE YOU ALICE,” from an eager fan. The South African singer-songwriter, though far from it, seemed at home on the stage—her mismatched socks planted gently on the stage floor, proof of this. Playing a healthy mix of lesser-known tracks, beloved hits, and self-proclaimed “gentle bangers,” the songstress held the crowd’s engagement in the palm of her hand throughout her set. Her unwavering, warm vocals, coupled with tight, seamless arrangements from her band, left every listener aching for more as each song came to a close.
RELATED: 3 Best New Songs featuring Alice Phoebe Lou
As she belted the words to fan-favorite “Open My Door,” one couldn’t help but glance about the room as fellow members of the audience—some of whom had every lyric committed to memory—shared a moment of true catharsis, grateful for the artist’s ability to articulate words they wholly identified with, but perhaps couldn’t place themselves.
A symbiotic exchange appeared to be taking place, in which the audience fed off Alice’s energy, and vice versa. This wasn’t lost on Alice either, as the artist playfully quipped here and there about her tiredness gradually fading away: “You guys are giving me all the energy I need right now.”
Naturally closing with crowd-pleasers “Witches” and “Dirty Mouth,” Alice all but shook the venue floor, bringing even the most stoic attendee to dance, and prompting my inner neurotic to warily eye the cluster of delicate chandeliers that hung above us.
As the show came to an end, and couples, friends, and solo-goers alike filtered through the exit, collective murmurs of contentment permeated the space. Alice Phoebe Lou put on the kind of show one hopes to revisit again soon, be it in person or in retrospect. Despite abandoning my aforementioned routine, the show proved to be the perfect way to conclude a Sunday night—filled with the nourishing energy needed to face the week ahead.
Words: Tamara Jiji
Photography: Phoenix Staub
ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
BEST NEW MUSIC
This post may contain affiliate links. Ads and affiliate links are how independent blogs like Grimy Goods can operate. Thank you for supporting our work and being a part of our music community.
