There wasn’t a single empty seat in the venue as the stage went dark and quiet. With every note, the 6,000 fans grew louder and louder as they gathered to see indie pop artist Lizzy McAlpine. This was the atmosphere of D.C.’s renowned concert venue, The Anthem, on the night McAlpine took the stage on June 12 for her “The Older Tour”. The tour is based on her latest album “Older”, which came out in April 2024.
While the album has been praised for its lyrical melancholic ballads, McAlpine has also received significant criticism, as it differs largely from her previous and more popular release,“Five Seconds Flat”, McAlpine’s second studio album. “Five Seconds Flat” currently has an average of around 68 million streams per song, including particularly viral songs, “Ceilings” and “Doomsday”, however “Older” sits at an average of around just 6.5 million. Fans were upset that “Older” is not as upbeat and production-heavy as its predecessor, leaving many disappointed once McAlpine revealed she would not perform many favorites from her previous hit album.
Despite knowing “Five Seconds Flat” would not be on the setlist, I was very excited to attend her show at The Anthem, having been a fan of McAlpine’s music for a couple of years. After experiencing the concert, I can confidently say that although “Older” is a slower album, McAlpine still delivers a stunning performance through her incredible raw vocals and comforting set design.
From the moment McAlpine took the stage, it was clear that she had a profound connection with her music. Her opening song, “The Elevator”, is an extremely vulnerable song that describes the fear of change in a relationship, longing for it to stay in its perfect state forever. The emotional lyrics of the song combined with the home-like set design separated this concert from any other I had been to. It was apparent that McAlpine had intended for this tour to stand out. Instead of popular songs taking center stage and bright lights booming, McAlpine touched the crowd with a cozy and welcoming stage setup that was thoughtfully designed to appear like a recording studio, creating a familiar environment.
Another standout feature of the concert was McAlpine’s impressive vocals. Though they are exceptional in her studio recordings, the warmth and clarity of her live voice reimagines her songs in ways that cannot be compared. Additionally, McAlpine kept production on “Older” to a minimum. From upbeat songs like “All Falls Down”, to touching songs like the album track title “Older”, the instrumentals remain simple, allowing McAlpine’s voice to be the focal point of the performance.
These elements combined made the “Older” tour one of my life’s most unique concert experiences. Rather than a lively and noisy show, it emphasized its calm and peaceful energy. The deep connection between McAlpine and her fans stood out, as she sang her emotional songs that the whole crowd visibly connected to. The show demonstrates a personal and thoughtful side to the artist, which is more focused on McAlpine’s voice and the environment for the listeners. If you can catch one of her shows before the tour ends, I would recommend it.
By Lucy Randall
