![\"\"](\"https:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/L.P.-live-in-Chicago-at-Metro-02-24-18-5.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBy Kamila Lada<\/p>\n
The crowd lined up around the block, huddled in the misty cold drizzle of Wrigleyville. Damp faces shining with anticipation under the twinkling lights of the Metro awning. Patrons bringing food to go to their compatriots in line.<\/p>\n
L.P. herself managed to sneak out the side door and zoom past the line of patrons almost undetected. Her classic black leather jacket and skinny jean clad self was recognizable last minute by her halo of dark curls and sunglasses. This audience had traveled from all around the U.S.: flying in from Albuquerque, a 6 hour drive down from Ontario, a train from Buffalo, NY; some to see Kat, a few to see Noah, and of course the majority to see L.P. The wide spectrum of fans had a similar range of awed opinions, before during and after the show. L.P. and Kat Cunning were both kind enough to take pictures and allow for a few words with me after their sets.<\/p>\n
One of the fans in line happened to be part of Kat Cunning\u2019s poetry slam club in NYC, before she engaged in singing. \u201c[Kat] is so overtly feminine, …unapologetically so\u2026.with uniquely real lyrics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kat Cunning\u2019s concert setup involved a circular, white, textured projection screen; the crowd vibrating with a hushed anticipation. Every line of Kat\u2019s lyrics was delivered with crisp, passionate enunciation and made as much of a statement as her custom white strappy bralette and layered hi-lo tutu.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When Noah came onto the stage, his fans were screaming the lyrics, and you could feel the love in the crowd driving the energy as much as the bass. The continuum of excitement ranged from relaxingly warm lighting for \u201cHold me Down\u201d to the entirety of the packed Metro Hall singing \u201cFine\u201d in unison to palpably vibrating with energy as the Hall clapped in unison, synced to one heartbeat. \u201cTake it slow\u201d had vocals with a uniquely crunchy chill vibe that transitioned to a smooth texture, propped with subtle harmonics. His feel good<\/em> music allowed for ample room in controlled falsetto with excellent musical balance. Noah almost completed his set and humbly walked off to let his band solo for a moment of respectful recognition, and returned to finish the song.<\/p>\n Throughout the night, a myriad of L.P. fans declared their love for her. One of them was Kat Cunning herself, who happened to stand next to me in the balcony; we chatted:<\/p>\n \u201cI appreciate [L.P.\u2019s] work… I\u2019m so glad to be asked to join [L.P. on tour]. My manager said me and L.P. could be a good fit and was right! Now we are off to Detroit. I\u2019m really glad to be paired up with someone so strong and unique. I want to write like her – she\u2019s a wizard with melody – and as a solo performer does more than hold her own. I really try to balance and emphasize in collaboration – especially in social media – people who are alone tend to fail, so [we] need to search out people to become team members\u2026<\/p>\n [My] set came into creation last November, with my 1st single in 2017, [it\u2019s been so fast]. Though performing is not new to me – I\u2019ve been on Broadway and a dancer since 3 years old. I told my dance choreographer I could sing, and NY Times said to please keep singing. [I feel] way more at home [singing than just dancing]. My \u201cwild poppies\u201d video involves all my beautiful dancer friends – what I wanna do at the Grammys, you know?\u201d – Kat Cunning.<\/p>\n Albuquerque traveler – \u201cI\u2019ve been an L.P. fan for years. Her lyrics are brilliant, her range is unbelievable, from alto tenor all the way up to soprano. The melodies for the songs she writes stick with you for days. She [maintains] a great connection and rapport with her audiences.\u201d The fan\u2019s friend replied, \u201c[L.P. has] the most amazing voice I\u2019ve ever heard. I\u2019ve been obsessed with L.P. for a year and a half and saw her at Lincoln Hall. She is SO much better live!\u201d What do you appreciate about L.P. compared to other artists you like? <\/em>\u201cEverything! Words, melody, instrumentation, song, verse, chorus, meter is perfect. \u201cLost on you.\u201d\u201d Another fan interjected: \u201cNo wonder, no surprise her \u201cLost on you\u201d \u00a0song stayed at the top of Europe\u2019s list, it\u2019s surprising how much less famous she is in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n As a recent L.P. fan myself, these comments fanned the flames of excitement further.<\/p>\n Another fan burst forth, \u201c[L.P.] is my woman crush. I\u2019ve loved her for years and bought tickets for all her concerts in Chicago… I have pictures with her. All her lyrics tell a story. [In person], she is beautiful, sweet as can be and came out [to chat] with us. It\u2019s nice when someone is natural\u2026.down-to-earth. [I went] to an event which did filming with JPTV, though I never saw the broadcast. I love, love, LOVE \u201cMuddy Waters,\u201d \u201cLost on you,\u201d and \u201cTokyo Sunrise.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n Her friend, who was also with her for the JPTV film event said, \u201cbut this is way more exciting, really can\u2019t wait to see her!\u201d<\/p>\n One of the photographers covering L.P. was a major fan since the beginning, \u201cin Chicago\u2019s Beat Kitchen, Joe\u2019s, small Chicago places, 7 years ago, with her \u201cWasted\u201d time period. [I\u2019m an] old time fan.\u201d Why do you think she is so big now if she\u2019s been around for so long and you say she has not changed? <\/em>\u201c [She\u2019s] unique, very unique, [and her] good connections with Rihanna and other big artists probably helped her grow, though she was great back in the day. I saw her in Atlanta, Vegas…she wasn\u2019t signed on to a major record label back in the day, probably why it took her longer to make it. People are finally catching on!\u201d \u201cOne of the things about her songs is they really stick with you. I got my friend hooked and she can\u2019t stop singing!\u201d<\/p>\n L.P.\u2019s live performance itself was as promised, even more exciting than any online video. Her onyx acoustic guitar and matching signature ukelele delivered that irreplaceable vibe as her strums and \u201cyea yeas\u201d brought the Hall together; it was as if opening the royal blue, white filigree ceiling undoubtedly could bring together the world in the same manner. The crowd rocked back and forth with the beat as the perfect whistling, strongly held high notes, and quivering vibrato delivered waves of joy emanating from the stage, solidified further when L.P. sat on the bass drum, beaming towards the crowd.<\/p>\n Opening with \u201cStrange,\u201d with the audience and palpably holding its breath during \u201cTokyo Sunrise,\u201d she shook hands with the front row many times over the course of her hour+ long set, stood on the barrier and hugged as many fans as possible, all the while singing with perfect support and tone, an incredible feat as each piece of the set delivered more than the last. \u201cWhen we\u2019re high,\u201d showcases her remarkable stretches from an E3 to an E\u266d6. She then continued to create enough excitement for the entirety of the pack Metro Hall to sing in harmony for \u201cLost on you,\u201d as loud as her on the mic! Her consistently strong vocals pierced through to every receiving soul to guide them along her ultra high grace notes as she supported her own canon, filling in the low \u201cey eys\u201d contrasted with her high stepping pattern.<\/p>\n Of course, props to the lighting and stage crew for creating a kaleidoscopic effect with dozens of strips of tall mirrors which illuminated L.P.\u2019s hair in an aurora of neon and bathed the audience. How her face showed utmost passion and relaxation, combined with her demeanor, to form an effect akin to hanging out late at night with a group of talented musicians in a giant living room. Her voice emerged from the depths of another world, ethereally graceful, as she moved through the front row several times, receiving tokens and a bouquet of roses from ecstatic fans. The exchange of love was indescribable: between the music, L.P., her guitarist jumping for joy with the beat, the fans – old and new.<\/p>\n After the show, her manager was kind enough to allow me backstage for a hug and hello. Her down to earth nature in her lyrics exuded out of her petite self. Though she started in NYC, she moved to the West Coast, and became \u201cbased out of LA. Jobs out there were better to get in contact with other people. Then I was encouraged to write for myself, then had my \u201cInto the Wild\u201d phase. \u201cLost on You\u201d and \u201cMuddy Waters\u201d were hits, then Vagrant picked me up and I became big in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n Kamila:<\/strong> So what inspired you to add such unique sounds like the ukulele and whistle? <\/em><\/p>\n L.P.:<\/strong> \u201cI basically took two gimmicky things and made them my own.\u201d<\/p>\n As the crowd dispersed into the night, the nearby bar just happened to be playing L.P.\u2019s album, as if the Chicago night air could not get enough of that unique persona, and the rain could not wash away the coalescent power of music.<\/p>\n Stay fabulous,<\/p>\n Kamila<\/p>\n For more on LP, including current tour and music, click here<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/L.P.-live-in-Chicago-at-Metro-02-24-18-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/L.P.-live-in-Chicago-at-Metro-02-24-18-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/L.P.-live-in-Chicago-at-Metro-02-24-18-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/L.P.-live-in-Chicago-at-Metro-02-24-18-6.jpg\")
<\/p>\n