Liz Phair Girly Sound Live At Islington Assembly, London

Liz Phair live at Islington Assembly Hall, London (Belle Piec)

Liz Phair (Belle Piec)

Tonight at the Islington Assembly Hall in London, Liz Phair played with a full band on her Girly Sound To Guyville tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Exit To Guyville LP.

Opening with mine and many fans favourite Supernova really helped put us all on the upswing for a school night out on a warm and rainy Tuesday in June. With brilliantly poetic lyrics like ‘You walk in clouds of glitter and the sun reflects your eyes, and every time the wind blows, I can smell you in the sky’ or ‘Your eyelashes sparkle like gilded grass, and your lips are sweet and slippery like a cherub’s bare wet ass..’ this awesome song will forever continue to be dedicated to great lover’s all over the world.

‘What if we just f*cking went wild and started playing Led Zeppelin?’ Liz puts it to the audience after the band went off the set list and we all cheer them on with enthusiasm. They play Take A Look from the self titled LP released in 2003, (also featured on an episode of Charmed the TV series). Next was a new song that’s been featured throughout this tour called God Loves Baseball written about the Chicago Cubs win on Wrigley Field breaking their 108 year losing curse. Liz is a big cubs fan!

I must admit, it’s really cool seeing Liz, a slight blond woman leading a band of towering men on stage. She smiles as she sings and peppers her between song chat with random swearing, it’s so refreshing. She makes me imagine her being the coolest girl in high school, that I know could kick my butt but I want to best friends with her anyway.

‘Did you know I used to live here?’ Liz tells us. ‘Gotta figure out how to make my self valuable to your immigration department!’ to which the audience cheers back a loving reply ‘YOU ARE!!’

Her lyrics are fearless, she writes what we think but never usually say out loud. Then she sings it out to the world! Dirty, filthy, funny, sexy, smart, real, beautiful, dark, light and passionate. She reminds us that it’s totally okay to be an ‘average every day sane psycho super goddess’ (lyrics from Extraordinary Liz Phair LP 2003). An anthem for the women of the world, I definitely say so!

Liz writes so brilliantly in her songs about the warped contrasts in love, sex and relationships – whether it’s the sweet beauty, realistic tragedy or the dirty fun grittiness. Phair gets it and gives it back to us weaved through with great guitar hooks, playful melodies and gorgeous layered harmonies. I can’t wait to read her memoir that’s due out soon, titled Horror Stories part of a two-book deal with Random House.

Photography & Live Review by Belle Piec of Liz Phair at Islington Assembly 4th June 2019.

YUNGBLUD Announces Bold Fourth Studio Album ‘Idols’

British rock trailblazer Dominic Harrison – AKA YUNGBLUD – has officially announced his highly anticipated fourth...

REEF Celebrate 30 Years Of ‘Replenish’ With UK Anniversary Tour

In a year packed with big anniversaries and nostalgic reunions, one of Britain’s most beloved rock acts is marking a...

Wolf Alice Return With Euphoric New Single ‘Bloom Baby Bloom’

London’s genre-defying quartet Wolf Alice have returned in full bloom with their new single, Bloom Baby Bloom—a vibrant, effervescent track that signals a fresh chapter for one of Britain’s most dynamic modern rock bands. Released after a period of relative silence since their Mercury Prize-winning 2021 album Blue Weekend, the single has sent ripples through the alternative scene, sparking excitement about what might be next for the group.

Pet Needs Are Primetime Entertainment At The Old Church

It’s lunchtime in sunny Stoke Newington, the part of London that really feels like a village. Most of the crowd lined up outside the historic Old Church are making this the first stop on their weekend, and as they mingle among the old tombstones with beers in hand, the anticipation is fizzing in the air. For the fourth year in a row, Pet Needs are about to kick off their Fractured Party weekender, and we’ve so far beyond ready for it.

Alice Phoebe Lou Enchants London At The Roundhouse

On Friday, 2nd May, 2025, the Roundhouse in London played host to a spellbinding performance by South African-born...

Lizzie Esau Unleashes Explosive New Single ‘Bugs’ — A Dark, Defiant Step Forward From A Rockshot Favourite

Rockshot Magazine favourite Lizzie Esau continues her rapid ascent through the UK’s alt-rock landscape with the release of her most accomplished single to date, Bugs. A darkly euphoric track filled with emotional grit and lyrical nuance, Bugs sees the 25-year-old Newcastle native confront the chaos of creative self-doubt with ferocity — and catharsis.

EMMMA Finds Power In Heartache With Stirring New Single ‘Wednesday’s Child’

EMMMA is no stranger to vulnerability — but with her latest single, Wednesday’s Child, the rising UK-based alt-pop artist turns raw emotion into a seismic act of self-empowerment. Released as the next step toward her second EP, the track is a defining moment in her artistic evolution: darker, bolder, and more emotionally fearless than anything she’s released before.

Jon Allen Unearths Gritty Past Of 18th Century London With Immersive New Album ‘Seven Dials’

British singer-songwriter Jon Allen invites listeners into the fog-shrouded streets and shadowy corners of 18th century London with his latest album, Seven Dials. Known for his earthy blend of folk, blues, and Americana, Allen trades modern-day themes for a haunting historical portrait that’s as cinematic as it is emotionally raw.