For an artist returning to the stage after taking time away, Lola Young looked right at home. Observing the reaction she received throughout the night, denim-dressed Birmingham was very happy to have her back. Performing her latest album ‘I’m Only F**king Myself’, the BRIT Award winner was welcomed by one of the loudest crowds I've heard in this venue. 'Lola! Lola!' was being yelled before she even entered. It was clear this wasn't a casual audience. This was a room full of diehard fans who had been anticipating for her return. Beautifully, a room full of all demographics.
Words by Rohan Minhas
‘Sad Sob Story’ opened the show. Lola performed like a star, and shone like one in her white fluorescent outfit. She came out to deafening cheers. ‘It feels good, it feels great’ was sung back with such joy. It’s insane to say that the audience had somehow taken over her already powerful vocals. It was evident that Lola was concerned that a break from touring would impact the energy of the show. 'SSS' and ‘Dealer’ immediately put those doubts to bed. The song's shout-out chorus added to the incredible atmosphere. Everyone was dancing. Everyone was singing. The reaction was so loud, even she had to stand back and say "what the f***?" after the song had ended. She apologised for taking time away from performing. This was the only time the fans didn't agree. We clearly felt she had nothing to apologise for. She repeatedly expressed gratitude, which was mutual throughout the show. More importantly, she praised the Brummie accent, claiming it to be the sexiest in the world. A comment that obviously went down very well.
The big hit ‘One Thing’ continued the momentum. The second verse was entirely sung back to her. ‘Conceited’ introduced a slight rockier edge. The final ‘talking to yourself’ by fans had the balcony reverberating, alongside the rhythmic claps. It was the first of 3 tracks from ‘This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway’. It reminded me that while she may have skyrocketed, many of us have been on this journey for a while. The song I was most looking forward to was ‘Big Brown Eyes’, especially because of the instrumental. Lola revealed it was her favourite song to perform live, and it wasn't difficult to understand why. The beat feels tailor-made for a live performance. Its crescendo towards a chorus that’s so easy to dance and sing to. It felt like one of those songs that perfectly captured the artist to audience connection.
The set progressed to a slightly slower pace with ‘Walk On By’ and ‘Penny Out Of Nothing’. It showcased the emotional core of her songwritting. The lyrics are very confessional. ‘I'll make a fool out of a man, I'll make a man fall out of love’ landed with extra weight for everyone. It was a clear fan favourite when the song was met with loud cheers. The reflective ‘What Do I Feel Better When I Hurt You?’ further slowed the pace. What struck me throughout this song and the show was how present everyone was. Truly, there was hardly a phone in sight. Plus no one was secretly trying to catch the World Cup. Instead, everyone felt immersed.
‘Walk All Over You’ generated some of the night's loudest cheers. I could genuinely say this for every song, which speaks volumes to the quality of Lola’s artistry. The line ‘You loved me for your ego, and I loved you for you’ was screamed back with particular passion. Lola's relatable lyricism was endeared by fans. Then came ‘Post Sex Clarity’, the song highlighted why her rise is so deserved. Her vocals throughout the evening had been excellent. Here, they reached another level entirely. The emotional delivery of ‘I still love you and I don't know why’ resonated throughout the room. Her sustained vocal notes were met with immediate applause. It reiterated to everyone how gifted she is as a vocalist, not just as a songwriter. She continued to raise the bar again with ‘Spider’. The chorus beat switch created one of the biggest crowd reactions of the night. Every lyric was screamed back. Every beat change was celebrated. Before ‘You Noticed’, Lola spoke affectionately about platonic love. It was really beautiful to watch. The wave of phone torches, Polly on guitar and Lola's raw vocals created a special moment. Once again, her vintage vocals came to light. Once again, she was met with applause. Time and time again, she exceeded the very high bars the previous songs had set.
‘Not Like That Anymore’ was the most fitting ‘beginning of the end’. Clapping, dancing and shouting along ‘one final time’, the crowd were eager. Eagle-eyed fans were quick to shout ‘two more songs’. ‘From Down Here’ is her latest single. The lyric ‘It's my favourite place, why do I hate it here?’ struck a chord with many in attendance. The iconic bridge produced yet another mass singalong. It is always amazing to both watch and be a part of this collective atmosphere.
Then came the magnum opus. The one everybody knew was coming. The one that introduced many people to Lola Young in the first place. Before beginning ‘Messy’, she thanked Birmingham once again and reiterated people dropping her sweet nothings in a Brummie accent. Most artists say ‘If you know this song, singalong’. I love how she said ‘I know you know the lyrics, so sing along’. No time to skirt around the truth. As expected, every word was echoed back. Both friends and strangers sang to each other. The band received the deserved ovation. After the final note, Lola remained at the front of the stage signing a few autographs. A perfect conclusion to a show that never felt distant or transactional. It was the perfect ending to a show built on connection.
I've attended so many gigs in my life. Pound for pound, this may have been one of the best crowds I've ever been a part of. Everyone in the room was so passionate and so loud. You could really feel the love. The chants never stopped. The dancing never stopped. The energy never faded. More importantly, neither did the sense of appreciation shared between artist and audience.
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