Lily Allen

Went to see Lily Allen at the Hammersmith Apollo last night; bit of a treat really. It was packed and very joyful- she's great- a little tough woman with a very sweet voice. I'd like to imagine myself her adoptive songmama but I don't sing as well (but nor do I have invisible backing vocalists!). She's got a fantastic brass section, tight as a ducks ass in a sandstorm, and one of those bouncy boomthwack drummers that is a perfect joy to watch. She said she was drunk but I think not- much too good for that although she did make the minor mistake of saying the Specials came from London (I almost sent her to Coventry for that), and she sounded off a little too much about politics; ex-pupils from Bedales possibly don't realise what would happen to the poor people in GB if and when the Cons dismantle the NHS and make them pay 'market rents' for their subsidised housing. But that aside, the music was fabulous, happy, perfectly played and totally uplifting. And boy, can she sing- her voice sounds lightweight on record but she was doing the most amazing swooping glissandos that were totally inspiring. I'm jealous, I'm jealous, I'm jealous!!!
The support band, A Bird and a Bee, were great too- I have to get hold of some of their music; the harmonies were like taking a bath in hyacinth, rose, jasmine, honeysuckle and lily petals all together, and the lead singergirl was a gangly guitarwielding nutcase. Perfect.