Lauryn Hill - IndigO2, London - 14th April 2012 (Live Review)
Monday, 16 April 2012
Written by Gemma Taylor
Soulful chanteuse Lauryn Hill returned to London this weekend for her first appearance in five years in a compelling performance that wowed the crowd at London’s IndigO2.
Many audience members may have expected an acoustic, intimate set, a well-known choice for the singer who once enraptured listeners during her acclaimed unplugged performance. This was not to be, and the up-tempo mood was set by supporting act DJ Rampage, who played reggae classics old and new, from Althea & Donna’s ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ to Vybz Kartel’s ‘Clarkes’.
Hill arrived on stage singing the wildly popular ‘Killing Me Softly’ to a jubilant crowd who chanted “Lauryn” as she finished her opening song. The New Jersey native responded without missing a beat, chanting “London”, saying: “It’s been a long time coming, I’ve missed you.”
Hill, who has shied away from the limelight following controversial comments on religion and the suffocating influence of the music industry, alluded to the difficulties she has encountered during her time away in various comments to the crowd. Despite this, she seemed to use the performance to express her resurrection as a forceful artist, re-working favourites from ‘The Miseducation’ album with the backing of a commanding band. Flashing lights and vehement drums inevitably surprised and put off some fans, who surely anticipated a more tender performance from the introspective singer.
Over the course of the two-hour set, Hill and her band, whom she revelled in directing like an orchestra conductor throughout, composed re-formed imaginings of her best-known tracks. Zion, dedicated to her first child describing her decision to keep him despite outside pressures during the height of her career, was re-worked with a ferocious backbeat and repetitive chorus and seemed to represent Hill’s inner strength and tireless positivity. The introduction of the beat to Sugar Hill Gang’s ‘Rapper’s Delight’ at the end of the song was indicative of the humour that peppered the concert.
As Hill worked through her back catalogue of classics, ‘Lost Ones’ stood out as a thrilling performance that inspired the now-frenzied audience. This elation continued as Stevie Wonder’s ‘Jammin’ Until The Break of Dawn’ boomed through the venue, while Hill also covered Bob Marley’s ‘Could You Be Loved?’
Careful to remember her musical roots, Hill delighted the crowd by asking: “Do we have any Fugees fans here?” before launching into ‘Fu-gee-la’ and ‘Ready Or Not’, playing the whole song in a rap and her signature raspy-voice.
Such an intimate setting would have provided a prime opportunity to play a softer number and Hill admitted this by singing a line from ‘I Gotta Find Peace of Mind’. As the crowd whooped with excitement at the prospect, the vocalist joked: “Do you want me to go unplugged? Someone told me not to...” before passively insinuating the reason for her musical disappearance.
“There’s been an enormous amount of resistance; I have not been gone for no reason...I’ve missed you.” The feeling was mutual thanks to an evening of beautiful re-imaginings and endless energy that proved Hill’s return to the top.
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