Concert Review: Lily Rose
Review by Sydney Hise
On an abnormally hot, sweaty Thursday night in Milwaukee, Lily Rose took the stage in The Rave’s bar level. With her openers Griffen Palmer and Stephen Carey setting the night up nicely, the atmosphere was lively and full of energy.
You could sense just how excited every person in the crowd was for Rose to take the stage. Before Rose came on, a club mix of early 2000s and current hip-hop & R&B tracks blasted from the speakers, getting everyone moving and dancing before she even stepped out. The second that Lily Rose appeared from behind the smoky haze that covered the stage, the crowd was hooked.
Rose kept the crowd’s energy high as she went straight into one of her (very obvious) fan favorites, “I Don’t Smoke”. Throughout the entire song, the crowd was dancing, holding their drinks up, and screaming every lyric. The audience seemed to be primarily younger LGBT+ couples - a very rare thing in country music. Through being comfortable with and sharing her own love story with her adoring fans, Rose has nurtured a beautiful and safe environment for a sliver of the country scene that may not otherwise have a place to be free. It truly was one of the best and most unique country shows I’ve ever been to, and it is a shame that Rose’s music isn’t more mainstream.
After another couple songs, this time with Rose playing the guitar, she launched into a cover of Shania Twain’s “Man, I Feel Like A Woman”. The instant that the audience heard “let’s go girls”, it was pure chaos throughout the venue in the best way. Crowd members were singing at the top of their lungs to Rose’s rendition of one of the most iconic country-pop songs of all time - and they were loving it! This cover was definitely the highlight of the evening and really showcased Rose’s scope of talent.
The night continued with favorites like “Know My Way Around” and “Villain”. Though her set was on the shorter side, Rose used every minute to the utmost of her abilities and put on a hell of an entertaining show, combining hip-hop flair with a country (leaning country-pop) twang.I didn’t know what to expect walking into this evening, but I walked out a Lily Rose fan for a multitude of reasons. If Rose is coming anywhere near you on tour, I highly suggest you check her out - even if you aren’t necessarily a country fan, Rose’s pure talent will wow you guaranteed.
You can catch Lily Rose as she continues her headline tour this spring, or opening up for the legendary Shania Twain on select dates later this year.