The End of The End of the Movie: Lizzy McAlpine in Oakland

The air on May 13th, 2023 held a tinge of finality. College graduates, fresh out of the commencement ceremony, walked the streets of Berkeley with flowers and their families, bidding farewell to their undergraduate careers. The weather marked the end of spring and the beginning of summer – warm enough for a tank top, but cold enough for a jacket come sunset. Lizzy McAlpine’s show at the Fox Theater in Oakland was the last stop of her tour, The End of the Movie, which sold out across North America.

The crowd at McAlpine’s concert was one of the most energetic that I have ever been among. They sang along to the pre-set playlist containing Hannah Montana and Kelly Clarkson with a level of volume typically reserved for live music. The opener, Olivia Barton asked if anyone had just graduated from college or high school, to which the audience responded with cheers. I imagine that some audience members were UC Berkeley graduates attending the concert the night of their graduation ceremony.

At 9 o’clock sharp, McAlpine began her performance with “an ego thing.” Dressed for summer, she wore sneakers, shorts, and a white t-shirt. Her set, containing a green couch, desk, and lamps, and resembling a living room, was apt for the bedroom pop genre. During “doomsday,” a song about ignoring red flags, red lights flashed across the stage. Although McAlpine’s songs fall into the folk-pop genre, the buzz of the crowd and incorporation of synth elements in her live performance elevated her music and created a memorable concert experience.

McAlpine skyrocketed to indie-artist-fame after her song “ceilings” went viral on TikTok. For some artists, blowing up on social media is both a blessing and a curse; videos of Steve Lacy’s concert at the same venue gained attention when the audience went silent during lesser known songs. Fortunately, McAlpine’s audience proved themselves to be diehard fans. Her audience screamed and sang along to songs from both Give Me a Minute (2020) and five seconds flat (2023), showing no less enthusiasm for her older music.

McAlpine indulged the audience with two unreleased songs. She played “Broken Glass,” a song taking accountability for your role in a relationship at the end of a relationship cycle. During “Broken Glass,” McAlpine walked around the stage, turning on lamps. Before playing her other unreleased song, “I Guess,” McAlpine asked the audience to participate, demonstrating a simple melody for people to follow. Both songs started with piano or guitar for accompaniment, incorporating other instruments as the songs continued, a buildup characteristic to McAlpine’s music. As an extra treat for the Oakland audience, McAlpine covered “She Used to Be Mine” from the Broadway musical “Waitress.” 

As a performer, McAlpine didn’t engage with the audience much. She remained center-stage during most of the concert and rarely addressed the audience between songs. However, her lack of engagement didn’t impact the audience’s energy. Her simple performance style and outfit exemplified the intimate, vulnerable songwriting that has drawn her fans in. To be a fan of Lizzy McAlpine is to accept her for who she is. 

Lizzy McAlpine’s performance at the Fox Theater proved her strong vocal ability and that her mark on the music scene isn’t limited to one song. Although five seconds flat has put her on the map for some, her listeners have been with her since Give Me a Minute and aren’t afraid to show her love. Lizzy McAlpine’s concert was a delight for old and new fans alike.

Article and photos by Sinead de Cleir