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Lila Rose
LYNX
Mariee Sioux
The Independent
May 7, 2015
Better than: The new royal baby.
“People are hard to love sometimes,” exclaimed Lila Rose before dedicating a song to her cat, who shares affection in a less complicated way. “Egypt” (named after the aforementioned feline) is the most stripped down and gentle track on Lila's upcoming full-length release
We Animals. Throughout a show couched in metaphors, the animated singer played into the hands of an adorning crowd, breaking off leash as the alpha with her wolf pack in tow. From behind a myriad of instrumental arrangements Lila's songbird's call chirped, giving The Independent satisfied smiles on a balmy night.
Barefoot and talkative, Lila charged into the night bursting with energy and enthusiasm. Refusing to let a small cold slow her down (“I got sick a couple days ago and prayed non-stop to get better”), she bounced around the stage with a choreographed jitter, clearly embracing the moment and letting the fans know they were appreciated. The show began with Lila in an elaborate stage prop modeled as a giant bird cage wrapped in mesh fabric. As animations of various animals projected onto it's surface and red lights beamed down on her face, Lila tore into “Now”, “Confessions”, and “Nothing To Lose” with industrial strength drums.
A variety of musicians including singer Emily Afton, and instruments, with inputs for horns and a trio string section, Lila spared no expense in bringing her brand of alternative pop to life. After a few songs she stepped out from the cage and commanded the room front and center; she had made a record, earned her freedom, and was going to enjoy it. Supported by her family and backed by a “dream team” of creative muses, Lila let her primal nature run free, earning hoots and hollers from a crowd that skewed female and yogic. A lioness behind the mic, she wore emotions on her tattoos and sang through a megaphone during the encore. She finished the set where she started, and at the end of the day despite her rage was still a Rose in a cage (sorry, I could help myself with that one).
LYNX and Mariee Sioux filled in their roles as openers nicely, gently rocking the boat in preparation for the storm to come. The room stayed full but not uncomfortably so. Curfew was observed after a brief encore from the headliner, and this writer was thankful to leave in time to catch a train home to Oakland.
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Critics Notebook:
Lila plays again on June 4 at Leo's in Oakland, with Emily Afton.
One tune implored marching from the crowd, and that mixed with the megaphone was hard to protest.
