The large, dark, beehive-shaped cloud that was hanging over Eden yesterday has parted and, lo, we all did Smile.Yes, blog devotees, for those of you who weren't there the whole gig was an absolute triumph. From the beautiful weather (is it summer yet?), to the happy-go-lucky atmosphere of the packed crowd to the huge talents on stage, everything just went right.
My new best mate Mark Ronson kicked things off with what was possibly the most profane performance ever seen at Eden, featuring a remarkable collection of collaborators including Alex Greenwald (whose vocal talents feature on Ronson's cover of Radiohead's Just and whom I bumped into in the crowd after their set) and Daniel Merriweather (Stop Me).It was a full-on, sugar-rush performance with Ronson playing the pouting, slightly anonymous Posh Spice to Greenwald, Merriweather, singer Talia and rapper Wale's bouncing cheerleaders.
It was a short set but they packed 'em in - Ooh Wee, Stop Me, God Put a Smile Upon Your Face, Just - and left the audience gagging for the main event.And then there was Lily. A vision in a flowing white dress, she was instantly at home with the Eden crowd who took to her like sherbet to a lolly.
"What an amazing place to do a gig in," she said, "I don't think we've ever played to such an up-for-it audience... I'm shaking!"For an artist with only one album to draw material from, Lily delivered a remarkably full show. Her songs - Smile, LDN, Alfie - are eminently, infectiously danceable and her writing has an uncanny instant charm about it, like you've known a tune forever even if you've only just heard it. And yes, as predicted, Ronson and his band returned for a duet on Oh My God, the Kaiser Chiefs number she did for Version.
It was indeed a bit of pop history, being the first time they'd ever performed on stage together.Everyone - Lily, Mark, the bands, the guest vocalists, the crowd, me - had fun last night and if that wasn't the perfect time for a bit of dancetastic beat-driven pop then I don't think there will ever be one.Lily said it was "one of our best gigs ever." You know what, Lily? It was one of ours too.
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