Olivia Dean skipped a grade, as far as the touring circuit goes. Soon after taking the stage at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena for a two-night stand this week, the singer said, “The last time we played in L.A., we played two shows at the Fonda, I think a year ago. Was anybody at those shows?” That sparked thousands upon thousands of people to lie with their cheers, claiming they’d all been in that 1,500-cap room. “Is this anybody’s first time seeing us play?” Dean asked. About the same number of people cheered, telling the truth this time.
There should be no shame in admitting you came in a little late on her ascent; it’s been a fast one. Dean wasn’t about to apologize for passing go and bypassing intermediary stops like the Greek on her way up, but she did want to acknowledge the privilege. “It’s not lost on me that that’s a big jump,” she told the roughly 19,000 fans in her downtown audience Tuesday night. You could argue that it wasn’t even quite big enough; resale tickets were at a premium for Dean, with the $400s as the get-in-the-door price on the secondary market, and lots of tickets being priced in the the low four-figures.
Her second album’s brash musical prophecy has proven true, then: It is so easy (to fall in love) [with her], as a matter of fact. And we might love calling her “wonderful” more than she enjoys hearing it.
