Lorde live in London review: An emotional triumph at her biggest ever London show
During her biggest ever London show, Lorde offers up a glorious release of the past, present and future.
By Richard Burn
In a sweltering summer like this, filling up our water bottle has been a regular daily task for most of us. For Lorde, it’s how she begins her sold out All Points East Saturday headline spot. After an unreleased synth-filled track, Lorde begins with break-out hit ‘Royals’, we’re now prepped for an evening of sweat, tears and a whole lot of reflection.
“I cover up all the mirrors / I can’t see myself yet”, Lorde sings during the performance of the third song of the evening, ‘What Was That’, the lead single from her latest offering, Virgin. That may have been true then, but the close-up camera angles suggest the artist is now ready to show up and face herself once again.
There is a vulnerability in Lordes music that is raw and unfiltered, translating to a setlist that feels equal parts relatable and uncomfortable. Like you’re being met head on with a lot of your own demons and thoughts you push down that you try your best not to feel.
The hospital iconography of muddles of wires, heart rate monitors and x-rays, reminiscent of the Virgin album cover, is seen throughout the set. This along with precise lighting, lasers and clever camera work made for a set that felt measured and intentional.
A festival setlist can be tough to crack, but Lorde proved up for the challenge. The crowd was met with a balance of hits, classics and new material, including the ‘Girl, so confusing’ remix. That may have been the loudest the crowd was the whole night, closely followed by Melodrama’s ‘Green Light’ and ‘Supercut’.
A moment is taken to reflect on the incredible line-up that she is top billing for, including Zara Larsson, Pink Pantheress, 2hollis and Rolling Stone UK Future of Music cover star Sienna Spiro. This All Points East line up is one for the history books.
After punching through the career-defining set, Lorde closes out by joining the crowd to sing fan favourite ‘Ribs’ all together. Among the sea of phones that begin recording, the moment feels almost religious in nature. A release of the past, present and future.