The Ally Coalition's 4th Annual Talent show with Lorde, Jack Antonoff, Kacey Musgraves, and more!
A few nights before the Grammy Awards, comedians, artists- some past/present Grammy winners and nominees, and a fashion designer came together to put on an epic night for an awesome cause. The Ally Coalition was started by the band fun. (Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff, and Andrew Dost) and fashion designer Rachel Antonoff. TAC works with friends in the entertainment, fashion, and music worlds to raise awareness and funds in support of LGBTQ+ equality, to help create safe spaces, and to be a resource to take action.
The 4th annual star-studded talent show included Lorde, Kacey Musgraves, The National, Spoon (Britt Daniel/Alex Fischel), Shamir, Bleachers, Andrew Dost, Phoebe Robinson, Aparna Nancherla, Jacqueline Novak, Mike Birbiglia, and hosted by Rachel Antonoff. It was The Ally Coalitionâs biggest talent show yet. The show raised almost $200K (double of last year!), which will go to homeless LGBTQ shelters and local organizations around the country including New Alternatives NYC.
In times like these, saying that youâre an ally is nice, but not good enough. Be kind to each other and support one another. If the world isn't being inclusive, stand up for all and fight for not just your rights, but the rights of others. We all deserve to be treated equally and love who we want to love. Donate or volunteer for different organizations. Get involved and help in any way you can.
Some highlights from the show included:
Kacey Musgraves unfortunately didnât bring her karaoke microphone, but she was still amazing and hilarious. She performed two songs âButterfliesâ and âRainbowâ that will be on her upcoming album, and her hit âFollow Your Arrowâ. After performing she declared, âIâm an ally for fucking life. Hands down. Donât care what anyone says.â
Comedians Novak, Birbiglia, and Dope Queen Robinson did sets on about the importance of ordering your own damn fries, some sperm troubles, and a super weird scene in the Kingsman: The Secret Service movie, respectively. Aparna âBeast Modeâ Nancherla talked about New York winters and how vaginas are more regulated than guns.
The National performed three songs including âI Need My Girlâ and âFake Empire.â Spoon beautifully covered John Lennonâs âIsolation." Both bands rocked and were super honored and psyched to be at the show. Mr. co-founder Andrew Dost showed off his piano skills playing some music from an upcoming secret project and covers of Judee Sillâs âWaterfallsâ and Harry Nilssonâs âTurn on Your Radio."
It was also great to have songs performed that were LGBT themed. Shamir started off by saying, âI have a lot of songs about LGBT issues because Iâm a part of that alphabet.â And then sang his songs âStraight Boyâ and "90's Kids." Kaceyâs âFollow Your Arrowâ has the lyrics, âMake lots of noise/Kiss lots of boys/Or kiss lots of girl/If that's something you're into.â Bleachers performed âAlfieâs Song (Not So Typical Love Song)â live for the first time. The song is off of the Jack Antonoff-curated album for the movie Love, Simon- a film about a teenagerâs coming out story.
Bleachers played a heartfelt tribute to Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries. Band member Mikey Hart actually went on tour with The Cranberries making it a little more emotional. They also performed âI Wanna Get Betterâ, a cover of ELO's âWhen I Was a Boy," and kicked off the show with the Beatles-esque âGood Morning.â
Ella spoke to the crowd, âWe were here [at The Ally Coalition Talent Show] last year, we were doing this, and it was like the first time Iâd been on a stage in a long time. I felt very much like I just emerged from our hiding place situation to come and play. I could feel like everyone was just like, âOh my god, itâs her. What is she doing out in the world?â By that point, weâd written pretty much all of Melodrama and we were just getting ready to finish it up and put it out into the world. And I remember being here last year and thinking like that feeling just felt impossible to even understand- that there would be another record for me. And now there is. We made it together and itâs nice that I can still come here and annoy Jack.â
Sitting on the piano bench, they performed âWriter in the Darkâ, Carly Rae Jepsen (a TAC talent show alumni)âs song âRun Away with Meâ, Roy Orbisonâs âYou Got Itâ, and âGreen Lightâ. While singing, she pointed to mic to the crowd and everyone sang, âIâm waiting for it, that green light, I want it!â The performance got the only standing ovation of the night. Itâs just the magic of Lorde and Jack.
The evening ended with The Ally Coalition Talent Show tradition of inviting everyone back on stage to sing Fleetwood Macâs âGo Your Own Wayâ. The best part of these talent shows is that theyâre low-key and chill. They allow the artists to be themselves and vulnerable and appreciative. They are all there to show their talent and help raise funds for LGBT+ youth. It makes you fall in love with new artists and more in love with artists you already love/like.
You know whatâs also cool about bringing all these artists together- not only are we fans of them, they are also fans of each other. Shamir spoke about how excited he was to finally meet Lorde, Aparna, Phoebe, and Kacey. He has even covered Kaceyâs âMerry Go âRoundâ in the past. As you watch each performer, you could see the other performers watching from backstage.
Take the pledge to be an ally with The Ally Coalition and start doing something to make a difference.
All photos by Daniel Silbert and Gabby Kirschberg.Â
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