THURS JULY 18 & FRI JULY 19
CRITIC PICK: Lizzo
Before Lizzo made it big, music industry gatekeepers didn’t appreciate how big girls could be so much. Now she’s leading a self-love revolution and making it look and sound sexy. (Just watch her recent performance of “Truth Hurts” on the BET Awards if you don’t believe me.) If you go back and read previous issues of the Mercury, you’ll find several articles—mostly written by me—that rave about the huge talent and multifaceted force that is rapper/singer/flautist Lizzo. Having played here at least four times in the last two years, she’s given Portland fans more opportunities to see her live than we probably deserve. Now Lizzo is back yet again to grace us (twice!) with her fun-loving spirit and soul-enriching soul-pop and rap anthems. From her hip-hop album Lizzobangers to her perfectly varied Coconut Oil EP to her 2019 full-length Cuz I Love You, Lizzo’s more than proven herself worthy of all the recent accolades and attention from the mass media. Cuz I Love You packs her steadfast message of self-glorification to her fans. Her live shows are like a religious experience—one that brings you closer not to god necessarily, but to yourself and your support system. (In my case, I was converted to Lizzbianism after my first time.) Her fierce, feel-good mission shines through on all her releases, but it’s most potent on tracks like “En Love,” “Water Me,” “Scuse Me,” as well as Cuz I Love You’s upbeat “Soulmate,” “Tempo,” featuring Missy Elliott, and the catchy, retro-tinged lead single “Juice.” With a fun and powerful setlist, a Lizzo show is nothing short of transformative. (Thurs July 18 & Fri July 19, 6:30 pm, Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey, Troutdale, all ages, sold out) JENNI MOORE
