LAUREN SPENCER SMITH PRESENTS THE ART OF BEING A MESS IN LOS ANGELES
THE WILTERN — LOS ANGELES, CA
It was a night filled with femininity that exuded the essence of girlhood when Lauren Spencer Smith brought her THE ART OF BEING A MESS tour to Los Angeles. Fans filled the iconic venue, The Wiltern, with laughter, glitter, and phones at the ready to capture the magical night before them.
Looking out into the crowd, it was impossible not to smile from ear to ear. I witnessed the true power of girlhood, with women of all ages gathered together to share their love for Smith’s music. Everywhere you turned, women were helping each other curate the perfect Instagram picture, sharing outfit details and giggling about which songs they were most excited to hear.
The sounds of the rolling thunder signaling Smith’s arrival were almost inaudible compared to the thunderous cheers coming from the audience. A phone is heard ringing overhead, with a phone booth synchronizing a green light with every ring. The lights flash, imitating the lightning strikes, allowing glimpses of the backdrop that consists of Smith’s eyes. The lights switch to a vibrant red, displaying Smith, who is met with a roar that had me convinced the walls were going to cave in. I can only imagine the pressure of energizing a venue like the Wiltern – it was evident within seconds that Smith was going to have no difficulty filling the space.
She wastes no time, immediately diving into tracks such as "IF KARMA DOESN'T GET YOU (I WILL)" and "Bigger Person". She glided effortlessly across one side of the stage to the other, ensuring every person got their view. She made use of every inch of the stage, from elevating on a three-tier tower to crouching on the floor – it was impossible not to be locked into her every move.
Smith’s set design was one of my favorites to date, with various creative aspects around every corner. Everywhere you looked, there were personalized pieces that included a tissue box with “sad girl on a bench” as well as a bus stop with the album release date etched on. A personal favorite was the use of the phone booth prior to "bridesmaid", where Smith relives the conversation that inspired the song originally.
The evening comes to a close with an encore of "Fingers Crossed". The experience of screaming those lyrics at the top of my lungs in a room filled with other women is one that I will remember forever. Smith has just a few more US stops before she sets off on her European run, but you can listen to her most recent album – THE ART OF BEING A MESS – on all streaming platforms.
