Lizzo at Minneapolis’ Armory: Gets political and basks in sold-out adoration – City Pages
Posted: October 10, 2019 at 7:45 pm
The one-time Minnesotan played her first of two sold-out shows at the Armory on Wednesday night. Shell be back on that stage Friday. In between, well endure a very different spectacle just a few blocks away.
Look, I dont want to talk about the guy either, but theres no avoiding the elephant in the Target Center. A president whose thuggish cruelty only endears him further to a fanbase powered by rancid white resentment is here to lie about our community. We can at least be grateful that this invasion will be bookended by a force for good celebrating her pop breakthrough moment.
At the Armory last night, groups of women enjoyed moving their bodies on their own terms, LGBTQ folks celebrated a spectrum of sexuality and gender, and a successful African-American woman onstage declared, both explicitly and in how she carried herself, that life offers pleasures of infinite variety and the complexity of your identity is an asset to be shared and cherished. We should give that America a try.
Lizzo first appeared last night in a pulpit elevated above the stage, the backdrop behind her depicting a church interior, complete with stained glass, and she began with two songs that fit the conceit: Heaven Help Me and Worship. Soon she yielded that perch to her DJ, Sophia Eris, and joined her dancers onstage, glamorously draped in a fringy gold outfit and holding the stage with innate charisma.
The crowd was particularly rapturous. Theres so much Lizzo in the air around here, and local coverage can verge on fawning, so its possible to get jaded, but this music inspires a vibe of real liberation in a room. During Cuz I Love You, women fell to their knees as they belted the over-the-top soul ballad to their pals, reveling in a kind of performative joy that was self-aware but not self-conscious.
In keeping with the church theme, Lizzo preached. Jerome was preceded with a disquisition on the fuckboy (though Lizzo, ever inclusive, reminded us that fuckgirls and fucktheys also lurk out there), as the singer celebrated her fuckboy-free status and contended that these sexually and romantically troublesome nuisances need to learn to love themselves.
Politics was an unavoidable topic. We live in an interesting world, Lizzo beganand if you doubt that at least some part of her is still Minnesotan, why else would she use our states most beloved euphemistic adjective like that? She continued in this generalized vein. A lot of people dont have good intentions. Im not gonna be more specificbut some of you know what I mean.
Still, as she shouted out Ilhan Omar and said the country looks a lot different than the people running things while urging black, brown, queer, and gender-non-conforming young people to get involved in politics, her sympathies were hardly hidden. Eventually she lowered the boom: Clap so hard they can hear it at the Trump rally.
Another extended speech introduced Good As Hell, to the backing of soft piano. Some concerts leave you wanting to be the star you just watched, Lizzo said, but she intended this to be different. Youre gonna leave this concert wanting to be yourself.
I dont know how that reads to you, but in the moment it was well, a moment. And thats the thing with Lizzo: She flirts with the sort of therapeutic self-help clichs that have kept womens magazines in business for decades. But whether tossing hydration into a list of buzzwords like self-care, self-love, and body positivity that we should embrace, or inviting each of us to consider ourselves thicc bitches for the nighteven the undeniably unthicc non-bitchesshe does it with a sexy good humor that yanks kernels of basic truth out of the commodified muck.
Lizzos rise to fame has seemed at times inevitable and at others so steady yet slow that you could never be sure she wouldnt stall somewhere along the way, stranding her at the status of a viral phenomenon with a handful of extremely well-licensed songs. But a lots changed since she was in the Twin Cities last May to play the Palace Theatre in St. Paul. The biggest development is that Truth Hurts has been number one for six weeks so far, smashing the record for longest time atop the charts by a solo female rapper. With that wobbly piano part that sounds like its being played by an animatronic otter in a saloon-themed novelty restaurant for children, and a swerving vocal suggesting just maybe Lizzos had a few, its an ideal set closer, perfect for swaying and singing along.
Lizzos beloved Sasha Flute made its appearance as she played an instrumental prelude to Juice, which honestly felt a mite anticlimactic. But we can hope its vibrant afterglow will help us endure whatever slander were forced to hear dribble out at the Sportpalast tonight. If hate is a virus, Lizzos concert was a vaccination. Lets hope that Friday night she can pull off an exorcism.
Check out our full photo gallery from last night's show here
SetlistHeaven Help MeWorshipCuz I Love YouExactly How I FeelScuse MeWater MeJeromeIt's My Party/CrybabyTempoBoysGigolo Game/Like a GirlSoulmateLingerieGood as HellTruth Hurts
EncoreJuice
Follow this link:
Lizzo at Minneapolis' Armory: Gets political and basks in sold-out adoration - City Pages
- Cocke and Fink: Community organizations work best - Roanoke Times - January 3rd, 2021
- 10 Books To Help You Reach Your Potential In The New Year - Patch.com - January 3rd, 2021
- Hoarding workshop - there is HELP available | Missoula, MT - Patch.com - January 3rd, 2021
- Names and faces - Arkansas Online - January 3rd, 2021
- The Boston Heralds Top 20 stories of 2020 - Boston Herald - January 3rd, 2021
- Opinion: There's power in the spoken word, even if no one else hears - BethesdaMagazine.com - January 3rd, 2021
- Remdesivir and baricitinib shortened recovery time from COVID-19 - Medical News Today - January 3rd, 2021
- Finding time for creativity will give you respite from worries - The Guardian - January 3rd, 2021
- New Year 2021: The resolution we all need to make for mental health - The Indian Express - January 3rd, 2021
- Life coach and movie mentor Dawud Gurevitch prescribes patients with films to boost their happiness - The Irish Sun - January 3rd, 2021
- Book Club: 3 books we read to close out 2020 | KSL.com - KSL.com - January 3rd, 2021
- 10 great local foodie products to help soothe Clevelands cold January bluster - cleveland.com - January 3rd, 2021
- 5 Ways to Take Care of Yourself in the Year Ahead - Rewire.org - January 3rd, 2021
- Three ways to help refugees and each other create a healthy path - Buffalo News - January 3rd, 2021
- Healthcare workers have 7 times the risk of severe COVID-19 - Medical News Today - January 3rd, 2021
- What Taunton's leaders have learned from 2020 that they'll carry into 2021 - Taunton Daily Gazette - January 3rd, 2021
- COVID-19 Decision Fatigue: What It Is and How to Deal With It - Healthline - January 3rd, 2021
- Solon author hopes poetry book will inspire others to love themselves - cleveland.com - January 3rd, 2021
- Sac Self-Help Housing Invites the Community to Donate Items to Housewarming for the Unhoused Drive-Thru - The Sacramento Press - November 24th, 2020
- Bluffton Self Helps gives 400 families a Thanksgiving dinner thanks to generous community donations - WJCL News - November 24th, 2020
- Your Mental Health Can Affect How You Save Money - Daily Journal Online - November 24th, 2020
- Fairway's New Self-Checkout Kiosks are the Buzz of the Neighborhood; Some Approve While Others are 'Flummoxed' - westsiderag.com - November 24th, 2020
- Fight the Power: Squash your beef this holiday season - Charleston Post Courier - November 24th, 2020
- Answer Man: How bad is the rent crisis? How can I help? - Citizen Times - November 24th, 2020
- Whats happening Monday in the north valley - Chico Enterprise-Record - November 24th, 2020
- Driving their way to self-reliance - The New Indian Express - November 24th, 2020
- This Constructed Self of Mine: On the Narrative Possibilities of Racial Melancholia - lareviewofbooks - November 24th, 2020
- 10 Habits Of Resilient Employees And How Company Leaders Can Support Them - Forbes - November 24th, 2020
- At Home Learning, Covid-19, and Working from Home: Managing Stress of 2020 and Beyond - Local Profile - November 24th, 2020
- Credit union moves to DeLand | Business | beacononlinenews.com - The West Volusia Beacon - November 24th, 2020
- HarborOne Bank breaks ground at new West Grove Street location - SouthCoastToday.com - November 24th, 2020
- 10 Tips To Find Balance And Thrive In Your Career During The Holidays - Forbes - November 24th, 2020
- What Is Bigorexia? Definition, Symptoms, Coping & More - Healthline - November 24th, 2020
- Why Self-Help and Development Is Crucial for CEO Success - Yahoo Finance - November 24th, 2020
- What to Know About Dating Someone with Depression - Healthline - November 24th, 2020
- COVID holidays inspire behaviors, expectations for life in new year - Williamsport Sun-Gazette - November 24th, 2020
- In a Time of Darkness, This Student Is Helping His Peers Find Their Authentic Selves - UVA Today - November 24th, 2020
- New Line Up of Virtual Classes Aim to Help Parents and Teachers Through the Holidays and Beyond - Signals AZ - November 24th, 2020
- Trial launched to test app that promises digital self-help for youngsters - Yahoo Finance UK - November 5th, 2020
- Off the Shelves November 5 - Greenfield Daily Reporter - November 5th, 2020
- Op-ed: Health care workers literally lose sleep over pandemic. That's bad for patients. - IndyStar - November 5th, 2020
- Global Airport Self-service Markets, 2019-2020 & Forecast to 2025: COVID-19 Impact - Market is Expected to Expand at a CAGR of 0.3% -... - November 5th, 2020
- Self-care is critical this election season - Famuan - November 5th, 2020
- Teaching: Helping Students Make Sense of the Election - The Chronicle of Higher Education - November 5th, 2020
- Feeling stressed? 3 ways to cope with election results - KCRA Sacramento - November 5th, 2020
- Student initiative helps bring attention to food insecurity - OSU - The Lantern - November 5th, 2020
- Digital Transformation Initiatives Post Pandemic to Drive Marginal Growth in the Global Airport Self-service Market, 2025 - GlobeNewswire - November 5th, 2020
- Election Day is now 'Election Week.' Here are 50 ways to get through it - CNN - November 5th, 2020
- Which Purchases Are Worth the Splurge? - Kiplinger's Personal Finance - November 5th, 2020
- 5 things you can do to stay calm, collected and happy this election season - Citizen Times - November 5th, 2020
- New research documents how COVID-19 multiplies stress and trauma for people with disabilities - Vanderbilt University News - November 5th, 2020
- 17 Breathing Videos That Will Help You Relax and Unwind - Self - November 5th, 2020
- Give more help to caregivers who often ignore self-care: Experts - The Straits Times - November 5th, 2020
- Neocase, leader in cloud-based HR Service Management solutions, has been named a Core Challenger in the EMEA market by Fosway. - GlobeNewswire - November 5th, 2020
- UPs Mirzapur goes global, handicrafts made by citys self-help groups to be exhibited in Japan - Newsroompost - November 5th, 2020
- IIT Bombay launches a self- help website to enhance emotional wellbeing of its students The website is supported by the alumni of Class of 1992 -... - November 5th, 2020
- Clinical trial to assess rehabilitation treatment for infants and toddlers after stroke - Newswise - September 29th, 2020
- Exercise plays a key role in addiction recovery, stresses of pandemic - Las Vegas Sun - September 29th, 2020
- Romance Meets The Real World In 'Real Men Knit' - NPR - September 29th, 2020
- Meet the team of Arcadia, the salon bringing style + color to Avondale - Bham Now - September 29th, 2020
- Great British Baking Show is back on Netflix and coming for Nailed It - Polygon - September 29th, 2020
- In support of student media handoffs and the power of personal essays - Poynter - September 29th, 2020
- The different selves of self help - The Michigan Daily - September 19th, 2020
- Ken Norton, The Former US Marine Who Used A Self-Help Book To Beat Ali - The Sportsman - September 19th, 2020
- How to identify and address feelings of anxiety and depression - IU Newsroom - September 19th, 2020
- VDH COVID-19 Update: Spigot turned to help hospitality industry - Vermont Biz - September 19th, 2020
- Perks and Benefits Remote Workers Actually Want - Built In Chicago - September 19th, 2020
- Keep your coffee and other advice from people who paid off thousands in debt - CNBC - September 19th, 2020
- Suicide Prevention Month - Catholic University of America The Tower - September 19th, 2020
- Diabetes self-management telephone class to begin Oct. 7 - The Tribune - Ironton Tribune - September 19th, 2020
- Jay Shetty: How to "Think Like a Monk" | Amanpour and Company - pbssocal.org - September 19th, 2020
- WebMetrix Group On The 21 Podcasts to Expand Your Mind in 2021 - GlobeNewswire - September 19th, 2020
- This Veteran is Helping Fellow Vets Transition to Civilian Life Through Video Gaming - Good News Network - September 19th, 2020
- Coping and Hoping: Mental Health Tips for Trying Times | University of Michigan - Michigan Medicine - September 19th, 2020
- Sound baths | A holistic approach to relaxation and healing | Your Best Life - KCENTV.com - September 19th, 2020
- You Be the CP: Case Studies of Complex MIH Patients - EMSWorld - September 19th, 2020
- First Things First Adapts to COVID-19 Regulations for Class of 2024 - Wesleyan Argus - September 19th, 2020
- Dallas Therapists Share Their Pandemic Advice for Patients - Dallas Observer - September 19th, 2020
- Citizens Financial's Discount Is Shrinking, But It's Still Too Wide Relative To The Opportunity - Seeking Alpha - September 19th, 2020
- Learning In The Age of COVID: From Chaos Comes Opportunity to Build Community - Sacramento Observer - September 19th, 2020