Photos in the gallery courtesy of photographer, Teki Shine.
For full gallery of pics from the concert, click here.
LP’s concert in Prague – where do I begin?! I guess, right from the start…
When you suffer from anxiety, have anemia and been on a sick leave for the last couple of months, not to mention your cat got really sick too, travelling 500 km for a concert is not necessarily the best idea ever… But when it is LP and her concert, it makes more sense, at least to me and most of you.
We got to Prague in the evening on a day before the concert, so we have decided to wander through the old city all the way to the Charles Bridge. Prague is beautiful, no doubt about it. It’s worth seeing, though the number of people on those tiny streets can be really stressful and add a little bit to the anxiety.
Thankfully the next day proved to be a lot better (mood-wise and overall). We saw that Karolina (LP’s big Czech fan) was already at the venue, so moved our butts to secure our places in a line. We got there really early, at about 10 am, and we were 3rd, 4th & 5th in line. Record for me. And then the waiting began.
On Sunday, Forum Karlín was the ‘epicenter’ and a place to be – we’ve been reunited there, with some of our Polish friends we’ve got to know through LP’s concerts during her 2017 Summer Tour. It was also a place for new friendships and many laughs. Time flew by really quickly.
Tip for you, if you’ll be eating a meal in the restaurant next to the venue, and you’ll order a salad, make sure to check for some unwanted guests in your bowl… On a plus, they’ve prepared something else for me (to be specific I could order what I wanted apart from the salad) and the whole meal was on the house… But I guess, that’s how it should be?
Anyway, back to the gig – the doors were supposed to be open at 7 pm, but they pushed it earlier to 6.30. Security was very strict with gifts for LP, people had to leave their bags with gifts at security, but in the end, those were delivered to LP’s dressing room.
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Before the doors were opened, some people who came really late (like 6 pm) pushed in front of the line, but here the security acted on their own, and asked to acknowledge those who spent many hours waiting for the concert and to move back. Btw, I keep promising myself, that on the next concert I will move to the back to truly grasp the atmosphere and everything what’s happening on stage, but it is yet to happen!
photo by David Webr, courtesy of World Stars Music – click on pic to be redirected to view full gallery
In the end we got a place in front of the barriers, a little bit on the right, as evident in the picture above. Opening act for LP was No Distance Paradise – indie rock band from Czech Republic. Their set started at about 8 pm, and people seemed to really enjoy their music. It was harder for me since they sang in their language, but overall they made a really nice impression.
LP appeared on the stage a little bit after 9 pm. Her opening song was Up Against Me and I could finally witness that screen behind her with mostly psychodelic shots and brief videos. The intro with LP’s voice-over is just incredible! I must say at some songs it made a really nice addition to LP’s performance, but…
To tell the truth, when LP is on the stage, my eyes are only on her. I can hardly concentrate on anything or even anyone else! This time I almost didn’t see at all Brian or Elias – who was seated quite high with his drum set, he was hardly seen behind his instruments.
But there were times when band members had a really great time and were messing around on the stage, especially during ‘No Witness’ and ‘Strange’, but also ‘Suspicion’ and ‘Free To Love’. Then, it was hard not to notice them as well. Setlist was the same as during previous concerts with one tiny addition.
LP added ‘Switchblade’ to the set and dedicated this song to Mela & Jitka and a sick little girl. Jitka is an author of a project to auction an LP-artwork, to help a 4 year old Rebeka Čiháková – a little girl who suffers from EB – it is a horrible skin condition, in which children’s skin is compared to butterfly wings.
photo Ivan Prokop, posted with permission
Mela is an author of LP’s artwork, which was signed by LP during meeting before her concert in Prague. This artwork will be auctioned via LP Czech Official website, auction will be launched on 13.7.2018 at 18.00 and it takes one month for you to participate in the auction. However you can help & donate any amount of money at any time via Rebeka’s website.
photo Ivan Prokop, posted with permission
But let’s get back to the gig. Looking at the setlist, there are several songs that always make a biggest impact on me, ‘Muddy Waters’, ‘Into The Wild’, ‘Switchblade’, ‘No Witness’, ‘Strange’ & ‘Levitator’. With addition of ‘Free to Love’ – it was the first time for me to listen to this song live and it gave me chills and feels.
photo me
I absolutely loved this performance! Don’t get me wrong, LP was top-notch throughout the whole concert, she didn’t hesitate to add an extra touches to each and every song. But the songs I mentioned above, remain my absolute favourites. I love the re-arranged version of ‘Muddy Waters’, that vocal hooks at the end of it are just incredible!!
Same thing with ‘Strange’ and ‘No Witness’ – this song has to be witnessed live! And the audience, as well as the band, loved every second of it. ‘Into the Wild’, ‘Levitator’ and ‘Free to Love’, made me teary-eyed. Olders songs, but still got it, no matter what.
photo me
And of course ‘Switchblade’, first few notes and I am done… And Alex’s guitar is simply dreamy in it! Not to mention LP’s uke! During this song Max turned places with Dan on the keys. But let’s talk about newer songs for a little bit. ‘Recovery’ is a brilliant piece and LP is working magic with her voice in it. This song made me cry as well and very emotional.
The one thing that bothered me – some members in the audience all of a sudden had an urgent need to talk during that performance. Hopefully LP didn’t hear it through her ear-pieces. ‘Girls Go Wild’ is as fun as I expected it to be and LP was having the best of times singing it. And we could totally feel it and embrace it, with our sing-along and clapping to the rhythm.
And now ‘Dreamer’, after listening to some previous performances via videos and live-feed I had a trouble with this song. I like it but I also feel that it needs something more… However that rendition in Prague was near to perfect and the audience truly enjoyed it, myself including.
photo me
But hey, LP could sing a telephone-book and I would still “swallow it as a young pelican” – Polish saying but I think you’ll get a gist of it. However I am really curious about the album version of this particular song. Anyway, back to setlist. During ‘Strange’ LP came down to the audience for a little bit.
And during ‘Lost on You’, there was a really great moment when we all sang the chorus without instruments. You could feel the human power at that specific moment. And LP felt it too and she seemed really moved by it. But, do I have any regrets? Only few. Most of all, I miss LP’s banter with the crowd. I truly miss it.
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Also, since the venues and crowds are getting bigger, it is a lot harder for LP to make that personal connection with her audience. But I did have my tiny moment during ‘Lost On You’. As for the venue, everything great, but when you open the doors at 18.30 and the main act starts at 21.00 you could somehow made possible to those in front rows to get a tiny bit of water.
Overall, I had a blast, minus few moments when anxiety got better of me. But LP was in her top form and she sang beautifully! That voice!! That voice should conquer the whole wide world, not just Europe!! I’m pretty sure she made a tone of new fans after this gig.
Now, I might have some tiny surprise for you in a near future, but you’ll have to wait a little bit for it. However, I wanted to add few words about meeting LP at the airport in Prague. I am the last person to “stalk” LP, I would never go to her hotel, so this made me truly torn. But after talking about what to do with my friends, we have decided to go, 30 km by car, even though we knew the bus was already there…
Why? Lauren was LP, but it turned out she was so sick that she was nowhere to be seen during LP’s concert in Prague. First time I could possibly meet her, but some higher power made it impossible on that day. I love Lauren’s music as well – like I wrote on Instagram, “Valhalla” is one of my favorites, “Those Letters” give me feels and “Sheet Stains” give me life. There are many more I love, like “Burden” etc, but it would take a lot of time to write it all down.
So off we went… And by some magic chance, LP & Lauren were still at the airport, in the line for their check-in. We’ve waited on the side. There was no one else from LP fans in the sight. When LP & Lauren left the line to move to the departure gate, they walked past us, and that’s when I said I was truly sorry to bother them, and if they are not feeling well or anything, we totally get it and we will leave them to be…
But LP, I don’t know how much strength and kindness and compassion there is in this tiny body. She said no to worry, asked how we liked the gig, and even thanked us for coming to the airport! And then we stood not knowing what to do next, Lauren moved further back, she couldn’t possibly knew, she was the main reason for us coming to the airport.
But again LP came to the rescue, asking if we wanted to take the pics. So we did, Lauren really didn’t feel well, that’s why I’ve made such silly face on the pic, I didn’t know wheter to smile or cry. But, she was very kind, she even noticed my blue star necklace, which was made by my jeweller, since I loved the necklace she wears all the time.
At that time I was staring at Lauren, but I felf that someone was touching my arm, I turned and it was LP, asking why I am shaking so much, and whether I am fine… Can you believe that? Then and there I had to hug LP yet again, explain myself, and to thank her for everything…
At one point, LP even said to Lauren – that’s the girl that does the blog! You should have seen me then! This meeting made a huge impact on me. Few minutes, yet so very powerful. That gave me so much strength, and made me again teary-eyed. I truly hope we didn’t bother them too much. Again, LP and Lauren, thank you for everything! Thank you!
To end my post, I’m adding few quotes from LP fans, after her concert in Prague. Tereza (@t_jasnikova): “Big strength in the fragile body. ❤ love you Laura 🖤.” Kateřina (@k_a_t_h_e_r_i_n_e_94): “LP in Prague 8/7/2018 ❤🌈 Incredible woman. Amazing performance. She is a GOD 🙏🏻.” @modrej.zralucek: “@iamlpofficial whistle me to sleep.”
Huyen (@huyen_vuova): “LP | It’s always great when they outdo your expectations, but little did I know it would be THIS GREAT. After Sam Smith and Imagine Dragons, this Queen was the one who struck my heart the most (recovery). LP is pure gold ❤👏🏻!”
I also wanted to thank Martyna & Sandra for our little adventure, I had a blast with you guys! Ludwisburg, see you soon!
For LP’s concert review click here and gallery of pictures click here, another gallery is here, also here; another review is here with full gallery here. And another one is here. Today LP is performing at Exit Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia.
