Lizzy McAlpine started off the UK leg of her Older Tour in London for two nights at Eventim Apollo with her setlist featuring songs from her newly released deluxe album 'Older (and Wiser)' and her other works, this night was set to be a night to remember.
It was white skirts and cottagecore galore as everyone waited outside ready for her show. The energy was sky-high when everyone entered the venue. As you waited for McAlpine to come onto the stage, you'd come to notice that the stage layout wasn't typical of a normal concert. It was set up like a recording studio with wooden acoustic panels, warm-toned lamps, and minimal lighting, it felt very homely. This was a decision made by McAlpine as announced in an Instagram Live earlier in the year as she stated the way she used to tour was extremely damaging for both her physical and mental health. Alongside that announcement, she also stated that there would be no opener for any of the tour.
"I’m doing tour the way that I want to do it…. I made this album with this band and I’m taking them on tour with me … because it makes sense to me to do that.” - Lizzy McAlpine, Instagram Live, Feb 2024
As the lights dimmed down and the band walked onto the stage, the crowd's chatter faded into the background and McAlpine strolled onto the stage, put on her headphones, and started her set. It started with “The Elevator” and “Come Down Soon,” and as the show progressed, the crowd watched in wonder as did I at this unique performance. I had never seen anything like this myself and I loved it.
As her deluxe album had been released earlier in the month, a couple of new songs, notably, 'soccer practice', 'spring into summer'; and 'pushing it down and praying' had been added as a result of this. She told the audience that 'spring into summer', was made and finished backstage earlier in the tour at her Boston show with her band. She had debuted this song that night she'd finished it and it ended up on the deluxe album as she and her band loved the song so much.
Fans of her previous album 'five seconds flat,' would recognize some of the songs as 'chemtrails', 'doomsday' and 'ceilings' were played further into the set. These songs all had a different take than before as this new setup allowed for a more gut-wrenching and raw showing of these songs. I can say I definitely teared up as these songs progressed and took shape in front of my very eyes.
To see an artist who picked up such fast social media virality make a tour that works for them and stir their own ship is so inspiring and extremely empowering. That initial risk she took was worth it for herself and she still toured to sold-out crowds across the world.