Captivating LP turned Forum Karlín into one big temple
The popular American woman with Italian roots, LP, visited the Czech Republic for the second time this year, mainly to present her current record “Churches”, released at the end of last year. This time she was in good form – she definitely earned her reputation after the recent Colors of Ostrava. Rio Kosta duo jumped ahead.
Live: LP
support: Rio Costa
place: Forum Karlín, Prague
date: September 6, 2022
set list:When We Touch, Goodbye, Girls Wild, Everybody Fall In Love, When We’re High, No Witness, Weird, How Low Can You Go, Muddy Waters, Rainbow, The Conversation, Yes, Shaken, My Body, Churches, End Time, Strange, Lost On thee
Photogallery
© Martin Bambušek / musicserver.cz
The last time I was at the Karlín Forum was before covid. And on the popular Laura Pergolizzi, or LP, in July, when she was one of the main stars of the Colors of Ostrava festival. Unfortunately, her performance there was not the best. The main part of this was the promoter of hardening, the ice man Wim Hof, who received a special award before her concert. However, his subsequent speech to the people was not suitable – instead of uniting them, he rather repelled them with his speeches about the uselessness of health care and schools. LP then played late and with a shortened set due to ill health. People learned all this only the next day from social networks, the organizers did not comment on it on the spot, which caused stormy discussions. I saw the singer for the fourth time in total, and I have to admit that the biggest impression on me in 2018 was at the previous stop in Ostrava. In general, it provides standard balanced performance. She is simply an element, an imaginary devil from electricity, she is energetic, spontaneous, smiling, somewhat mysterious, unprompted and with gold in her throat – with a piercing, even urgent voice. Despite her small figure, she radiates enormous charisma. She’s not at all acting like a star with manners, but she’s one of us. I enjoy her visage – when she puts on her hat and turns from profile, she looks like Michael Jackson at times. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who couldn’t take my eyes off her tattoo, which she likes to show through her blouse (a new one was added later in the evening, by the way). Overall, it looks casual and casual.
© Martin Bambušek / musicserver.cz
Forum Karlín was bursting at the seams. The fact that there is interest in Laura was evidenced by the fact that it was sold out long in advance Sold Out, despite the fact that she returned to the Czech Republic for a relatively short time in a row. The increased demand was noticeable even in front of the entrance, where the queue was perhaps a hundred meters long. Good ground for the main actress was prepared by the suitably chosen frontrunner Rio Kosta. LP didn’t have to choose at length, she reached into her ranks. The project consists of her guitarist Mike Del Rio, who is also her producer and drummer. It was a good choice that found southern rhythms for the creation of the protagonists themselves. And Mike is also similar in appearance to his boss. Even before Laura’s arrival, the technician took pictures of the excited audience. The whole concert went by without unnecessary words, the musician greeted the audience only after the seventh song. She later revealed that she is working on a new record, which her fans can look forward to next year. She usually presents the current one on her tour, which she started last week in the Nordic countries. The opening “When We Touch”, which opens the mentioned studio album, served as a good intro. Of course, the conclusion would not be complete without the megahit “Lost on You”, but “Other People” and “Recovery”, which LP played last week, were left out of the setlist.
© Martin Bambušek / musicserver.cz
She changed instruments on stage as if on a treadmill – ukulele, guitar, harmonica (sounded at the end of “Stranger”) or tambourine went through her hands. She can do wonders with her vocal range, so the visitors got to see her typical twitter (I tell him myself bird vibrato). It’s just a pity that the sound was overpowered in places, which was a bit ear-splitting. On the other hand, the composition of the lights worked pleasantly. LP gave out smiles, waved. At the end, she received a Ukrainian flag from one of the fans. She herself did not comment on politics in any way. She seemed to give herself away, yet as if her presentation lacked something, perhaps more to draw people into communication, more immediacy. Just like years ago. Still, it was a pleasant evening. Laura, in accordance with the title of the album, acted as a preacher who did not teach, but also gave hope, as is the case with priests. The forum thus turned into a kind of tabernacle where joy was spread.