Summer Concert Reviews

Adam Distler
Chronicle Staff Writer

Bjork: Bjork is notorious for putting on quite a unique concert. Having performed in the past with a harpist, accordionist, quartet, Greenlandic choir, and full orchestra, I was interested in seeing what she would arrange this time around: a brass octet/choir known as “Wonderbrass.” With Radio City Music Hall, the Apollo Theater, and United Palace Theater decked out in flags and laser shows, she did not disappoint at all.

Gwen Stefani: Ever so eclectic with her styles, there is “only one Gwen you can find like this.” She will “blow your mind like this” with hits like “Yummy” on her current tour for The Sweet Escape. Along with her Harajuku girl backup dancers, she makes lightning fast costume changes into chef outfits, kimonos, and other sparkly garbs. For her Jones Beach show, she literally stage dived right in front of me for a performance of “Cool.”

Lily Allen: The saucy British songstress, Lily Allen, finally made it to America for a one-time only stop in New York; her other US tour dates were cancelled. She made sure to cover all of the songs off her debut album, Alright, Still. Flubbing the lyrics for “Not Big,” she still maintained to entertain the huge crowd in the Roseland Ballroom. As an added bonus, she covered songs by The Specials and Blondie.

Peaches: Peaches performed a special show out of the blue at the Highline Ballroom. She made a surprise entrance with controversial lyrics from recent album, Impeach My Bush. Known for her raunchy stage antics, she did not fail to shock; in this case, it wooed her audience. She showed her personal sign of affection for me by spitting fake blood directly into my face. Of course, it’s definitely all part of her extreme act.