Lily Allen Shows Off Comedy Chops

Toronto, ON

Sound Academy

Ian Gormely (CHARTattack)

04/23/2009 4:50pm

The live setting is a rough go for any artist, but it can be a career killer for pop stars whose work hinges on crystal clear hooks and vocals. Just ask Ashlee Simpson.

As a symbol for the online social networking generation, Lily Allen needs to do little more than live her life and tell the world about it. Seriously, she could never release another note of music and fame alone could carry her for years.

But as one of the few pop starlets who has chosen to actually support her music career with a full-blown tour, Allen proves she can put her money where her mouth is. The real question now is, can she pull it off?

A true mish-mash of fans were on hand to see on which side of the fence Allen would fall at her gig on Wednesday night. Hipsters, party girls and middle-aged yuppies all made the trip down to the Sound Academy. Most managed to catch at least part of openers Natalie Portman's Shaved Head and were treated to a strange mix of BBC Radio 4 meets the Jonas Brothers singing songs about beards and ponytails. As that description suggests, it wasn't very good.

Allen hit the stage in prime form soon after with "Everyone's At It," and stalked around like a less magnetic M.I.A. in a black and white hoodie. The set was extremely heavy on tracks from her new It's Not Me, It's You, with Allen and her four-piece band playing only a trio of songs from her breakout album, Alright, Still. One of those songs, "Everything's Just Wonderful," was prefaced with a verse and chorus of "Oh My God" by fellow Brits Kaiser Chiefs.

Allen's decision to go so deep on the new record worked against her. The sameness of the album's tunes are saved by some savvy studio production, but they bled together live, which dragged down the entire set. Despite Allen having a surprisingly strong natural singing voice, a back-up singer or two would have helped make the choruses soar.

The night was saved by the one thing everyone can agree Allen has in spades: sass. Her between-song banter was top-notch, off-the-cuff and hilarious.

"If he can't fuck right, then it's over," Allen quipped while introducing "Not Fair," a song about a man who can't get her off. In fact, the night's lesser tracks seemed like obstacles in the way of her comedy act.

The set ended on a high note with the Bush-baitng "Fuck You" before Allen returned to sing "Smile" and audience favourite "The Fear." Allen ended her set with a cover of Britney Spears' "Womanizer."

While Allen didn't exactly knock the socks off anyone at this show, her high points proved she's a singer first and celebrity second. Now she just needs to weed the duds out of her set.