Lizzy is one of those exceptional artists who writes about whatever’s on her mind. Her lyrics are displayed in such a way that it feels like we’re reading her diary; like she’s ranting to an old friend, and we embrace everything with open arms. I’d say it’s because we find bits of ourselves in her songs, which you can see from anywhere in the Fillmore crowd as they scream her songs. McAlpine and opener Olivia Barton have such a captivating presence that left the audience mesmerized at the end of the night.
This was Lizzy’s second headlining tour that stopped in Philly, performing last September to a sold-out TLA for her "five seconds flat" tour. Like always, Philadelphia will forever be a special time for Lizzy because she headlined such a large venue in her own hometown. This time she had a handful of her family in the crowd – including her parents and sister.
The night started off with Boston-based singer-songwriter Olivia Barton. Her set was amazing, and the crowd fell in love with her instantly. She truly has a whimsical personality and essence that fits in so perfectly with Lizzy's, and I think that's what enables this duo to work so well, as they have such a natural connection. I’m sure others will agree. Olivia made it her job to ensure that the crowd was as prepared as they could be to see Lizzy. It was so fun to hear her chat with the crowd between songs. In fact, she said Philly was the most supportive and encouraging crowd she's had. She performed a favorite of mine, “Control Freak." She explains that it was also a personal favorite of hers from her album This is a Good Sign released in November of last year. Barton said the song arose from a moment where she was just letting her feelings out. She reveals it's the reason she's unsure of what the song is about. Barton’s set was something so special and intimate, something I’m sure she holds close to her heart. During her final song of the night, "I Love You Just For Trying” she had the crowd close their eyes and sing the title to themselves. This emotional moment definitely ended Barton's set on a positive note.
After Olivia left the stage it was time to reveal Lizzy's stage setup. The crew removed the fabric once hanging behind Barton, to reveal a small studio apartment setup. The setting created such a warm atmosphere: Between a fun green couch, different posters, and cozy lighting, it felt like you were actually having a late-night chat with her; it felt like home. This background certainly hints at her musical theater background, something she's always proud of and excited to talk about. Using these different props, it adds drama to the scenery or emphasis on a certain lyric. She wants to give her audience the same homely feeling she has when making music. This is why she puts so much effort into creating the right atmosphere. This is her way of inviting listeners into her world and sharing her love of music.
McAlpine opened the show with the electric anthem "an ego thing." The song explores the tensions between a couple, and the fact that neither one will give in to the other when it comes to making a compromise or offering to conquer. As the song unfolds, we see the singer in a defensive mode, placing all blame on the other person and defending herself by repeatedly saying “I was trying to be honest” as she defends herself throughout the song. Once the beat hits and the lights flash behind her, we finally see the set in its full appearance and the crowd loses it.
The sing-along was deafening, no matter the song. Whether McAlpine was singing the new material from the album five seconds flat or old songs from Give Me a Minute, the voices from the crowd would, for the most part, drown her out every single time. There were many points in the show where it became extremely difficult to hear even McAlpine's most minute vocal nuances.
While performing "In What World" a song from her 2021 EP, "When the World Stopped Moving" Lizzy sits down at an electric piano and opens a notebook. There, she explains that she has been writing songs since she was 12 in her basement at a piano just like the one on stage. When McAlpine strikes the last chord and flicks off one of the lamps, the crowd is left in the dark to truly take in the track. The track is written about a relationship the singer never really wanted, and it stands on its own as a powerful masterpiece.
I think what’s most meaningful to note about her family being there, was McAlpine performing the unreleased track “Emma,” a beautiful tribute to her sister. At the end, this song had everyone teary-eyed to say the least. Along with “Emma,” McAlpine sang two other unreleased songs that night called “I Guess” and “Broken Glass,” both of which had an equally lasting effect on the crowd so much that they wanted more. “Broken Glass” caught the crowd by surprise, but they were completely enthralled from start to finish with lyrics like “I can see who you are now that the window's broke / Drop of blood on the carpet / Didn't think it would go this far.” In the end, however, it has already become a fan favorite of many. Then Lizzy sits on the couch before singing the next unreleased track “I Guess,” where she has the crowd harmonize 3 simple melodies behind her as she sings the lyrics.
Now it wouldn't be a fun tour without the sweetest fan projects at a hometown show, would it? Of course not! This time it was led by a friend of mine, Jackie Fortis. She created a fan project for one of Lizzy's songs “Give Me a Minute,” the title track to her debut album. Throughout the day Jackie and her friends handed out signs saying “Welcome Home Lizzy <3” to the people already in line. People loved the idea and passed the papers along as the day progressed. When the time was right, all the people in the pit held their signs up high for McAlpine to see; everyone could tell that it instantly put a smile on her face. It also brought Fortis to tears seeing Lizzy's reaction. I can only imagine how proud Jackie was, which is my favorite part about seeing fan projects in real time.
McAlpine ended the night with her most upbeat song “orange show speedway,” the song where five seconds flat gets its name with "…and I'm racing towards something that'll kill me in five seconds flat.” Personally, it's the perfect song to end the night on because it's just one of those songs you can scream around and dance to and end the night on a perfect note.
