There’s a certain type of joy that I get when I arrive at a show and you can just tell who the fans are there to see. If I’m being honest (and fully judging a book by its cover), I started noticing Alice Phoebe Lou fans from as far as the Mile End. I clocked a couple of people who absolutely looked like they were going to an Alice Phoebe Lou show as they got on the bus, and wouldn’t you know, I trailed them all the way to our destination. Walking into Club Soda, there were even more fans dressed for the occasion (I spotted more than one set of fairy lights and even more witch hats).
I totally expected the dedication; selling out a venue isn’t light work, but Alice Phoebe Lou has managed to do so for many of her shows in North America. I don’t consider Club Soda to be a particularly intimate venue, especially when it’s a packed, sold-out show, but when the production is pared down to a simple acoustic set, there’s an inevitable coziness that comes with the silence.
Alice Phoebe Lou may have come from across the pond (the Cape Town-born singer-songwriter is now based in Berlin), but her support came from just across the border. The crowd welcomed John Andrews, our neighbour from New York, and his lone guitar to the stage. With very little introduction, he began his set with some mellow acoustic tunes off his latest album STREETSWEEPER. The lyrics offered some comfort for those unsure of the future, the themes revolving around a kind of gentle uncertainty. His music was calm and quiet, yes, but serious? He’d have none of that here. John kept the vibe light as he cracked jokes and engaged the audience, ending his time on stage by sharing a moment of gratitude for Alice and for the crowd. He mentioned that he usually plays house shows and coffee shops for around 30 people, but he seems to be adapting to the spotlight pretty damn well.
You’d think that Alice Phoebe Lou would be just as comfortable in the spotlight, but the singer-songwriter took centre stage and revealed that it can be scary to play on your own. She quickly warmed up to the crowd, though, gracing us with her gorgeous “Disney princess mermaid outfit,” which no doubt contributed to her confidence. Not only an accurate depiction of her hot pink satin, floor-length dress, her ethereal vocals were just as I’d imagine those of a princess would be. The dreaminess spread across the room, all eyes and ears focused on her soft yet powerful voice, projecting every lyric with stunning clarity. I was particularly grateful for this; her enunciation welcomed us into the stories she told through her music and ensured we caught every word. Instead of listening to her sing, I felt like I was being invited into an intimate conversation between friends.
Even more significant were her interludes, sharing the emotions and experiences that informed the songs. Where some brought up difficult memories, others were viewed with a growing tenderness. Old Shadows was a particularly touching love letter to her younger self, viewing it now from the other side of her Saturn return.
Alice Phoebe Lou gifted us with a set of nearly two dozen tunes over the course of the evening, almost exclusively acoustic numbers of just her and her guitar. I always find it special when an artist pulls from their entire discography, showcasing their different eras and growth (both professionally and personally). While planning for the show, I did a quick search for the Facebook event but was instead directed to the last Alice Phoebe Lou show I attended in 2023.
During the show, she spoke about how nice it is not just to be able to share music with us over the years, but to share moments of her life that we can relate to. It goes without saying that this connection is meaningful to her, but I have to say, being able to follow her over the years has been a gift as well. Her stage presence has a way of uniting the audience, her gentle encouragement to sing along always bringing a smile to my face.
After she covered Harvest Moon, I could have left the venue content, blissful, and with a full heart. Though it felt like a perfect ending to her show, she announced, “this is my encore because I’m a diva and don’t like to walk off stage,” and proceeded to carry on with Open My Door and (of course) a gorgeously pared-down version of Witches. I couldn’t even be sad when those final notes echoed through the venue, only hopeful that it wouldn’t take another three years for me to experience another magical evening with Alice Phoebe Lou.
Review – Lauren Maddock
Photos – Steve Gerrard
