Lizzo @ The Anthem [DC] - 9/26/2019
Lizzo at The Anthem (Photo by Reggie Cunningham)
Lizzo has described her concert experience as "Church with a twerk," and her sold-out two-night stint at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. was exactly that: A spiritual love affair of self-celebration and joy.
The audience, which spanned all ages, ethnicities, and the entire gender spectrum, sang along to every word as Lizzo sang and rapped through "Tempo," Jerome," and the title track from her latest LP Cuz I Love You. While she initially took the stage wearing boots, a light blue bodysuit, and a metallic coverall, after a few costume changes she landed on gold metallic pants reading "Good As Hell" and a lace veil on her head. Yes, Queen. YES.
That Big Diva Energy kept the room energized for the duration of the show, with Lizzo and her backup dancers — the "Big Girls" — eventually crowing every woman in the audience a "thick bitch," encouraging everyone to dance and twerk along, to celebrate their individuality and do it loudly. But the positivity 'didn't end there.
Halfway through her set, Queen Lizzo paused the show and brought several puppies on stage ('don't worry, they had earplugs!) to advocate for pet adoption from the Wolf Trap Animal Rescue. Queen Lizzo’s benevolence isn’t just for us humans.
But all of that was merely a buildup to the show-closing "Truth Hurts," her chart-topping juggernaut of a song, that, unsurprisingly, the crowd knew ALL of the words. But just when 'you'd think that 'couldn't be topped, she returned to the stage to deliver a show-stopping rendition of Cuz I Love 'sU's "Juice" complete with ripping solo from Sasha, her flute. Because of LIZZO.
Dreamville artist and D.C.- native Ari Lennox opened the show performing tracks from her latest album Shea Butter Baby to a hometown audience that knew her well.
