In what is arguably the most embarrassing admission I’m going to make all day; this is the first time I have ever seen Tove Lo live. As a gay fan of hers, I’m painfully aware that this is borderline sacrilegious, but please, refrain from gay gasping at me.
Over the past few weeks, Tove Lo has been touring Australia and New Zealand, headlining Listen Out in six cities, and preforming solo shows in three others.
Upon arrival (back) into Melbourne, fans were greeted with the slightest of glimpses of Tove Lo as she ducked into 170 Russell, gliding into the venue too quickly for many to see. But I saw you, miss thing. You did not get past me.
After an electric performance by Naarm-based DJ Memphis LK (Tove’s Australian support act) it was with bated breath that we waited. That is, until we were teased with the opening beats of Bikini Porn, prompting screams from all around one of the most intimate venues in Melbourne.
From there, Tove Lo seamlessly weaved her fast-paced, pop anthems with her slow ballads, putting us on a whiplash-inducing rollercoaster of emotions (and I mean that in the best way possible). She was also able to effortlessly intertwine songs from Blue Lips, Lady Wood, Sunshine Kitty, and – of course – Dirt Femme through the entire set before giving the Queen of the Clouds girlies what they want with ‘Moments’.
Speaking of moments, if I had to choose my top three, they would be the following: Tove changing outfits, from a hard, shiny, metallic one-piece to a soft, pink minidress (under which she was wearing a matching set of pink latex underwear); the entirety of the song ‘True Romance’ (AKA my crying-in-the-shower song); and Tove’s announcement that, “this one’s for all the gay boys in Australia” before performing ‘Really Don’t Like U’ (feat. our very own Kylie Minogue).
From start to finish, Tove Lo gave us a sexual, sensual performance, providing us with a sneak peek of what’s to come in her upcoming album, Dirt Femme. And I, for one, was lapping that sh*t up (…but, to be fair, so was every single other person in that room).
