Liz Phair Takes the Wiltern to Guyville

Liz Phair performing at the Wiltern, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

songwriter breathed new life into nostalgia as she performed seminal 1993 debut album

With one leg in indie rock and another solidly planted in pop, Liz Phair is one of the most influential songwriters of the 90s and early 2000s (not to mention a lauded guitarist–she was listed as one of Rolling Stones’ “Greatest Guitarists Of All Time”). Arguably the poet laureate of girlhood for her generation, she weaves words into worlds, and has written some of the most frank and relatable songs about sex and love to ever grace ears. 30 years after she solidified herself as a rising star with Exile In Guyville, a record largely about being a woman in a man’s world (the music world especially), Phair’s voice and lyrics stand the test of time in their resonance and brilliance. 

Blondshell performing at the Wiltern, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

A poignant lyricist herself, up-and-coming artist Blondshell (real name Sabrina Teitelbaum) primed the audience with her sensual and sensitive-yet-angsty jams. Riding a fine line between indie rock grittiness and soul-shaking pop, Teitelbaum wowed with anthemic songs like her hit single “Kiss City” off of her self-titled debut LP. Midway through her set, she covered Le Tigre classic “Deceptacon” –an energetic, standout moment of the show. While Teitelbaum pays homage to her foremothers, she clearly has her own unique voice that speaks as much to Phair’s fan demographic as it does to her own generation. For Blondshell, this is just the beginning–and it’s more than promising.

Liz Phair performing at the Wiltern, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

As a galaxy-like display of city lights drenched the airy, white tapestries hanging from the rafters, Phair emerged from the dark wings, transporting us all into a world according to her as the opening chords of “6’1” rang out over nearly 2,000 voices singing in unison. From the pop perfection of “Fuck And Run” to the tender beauty of more somber tunes such as “Glory,” moving through the peaks and valleys of Guyville was a collective traversal of an emotional landscape we’ve all found ourselves immersed in before.

Guyville captures a version of us in time forever, but has grown with us–it’s a time capsule for her as much as it is for us as her fans. A singular presence whether accompanied by her band or alone onstage with just a microphone, Phair’s 25-year-old self’s essence shines through as if it was just yesterday that she wrote the record, fortified by three decades of self-actualization and a whole lot of life lived. Having actually gone through a marriage and divorce herself, the once-precocious “Divorce Song” is even more pertinent with the breadth of lived experience now behind it–something that some fans belonging to her generation can also relate to. Phair’s set was so much more than a schmaltzy trip down memory lane, though. She breathed new life into the record with theatrical touches throughout the show, from a small choir of angelic voices sprinkled throughout the crowd, to the ever-changing backdrops, brought to life with the work of painter Natalie Frank.

Liz Phair performing at the Wiltern, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

Liz Phair performing at the Wiltern, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

Experiencing Guyville together and on our own all at once, Phair’s songs harkened us back to where and who we were when the record initially touched each of our lives, while also grounding us as we reflected on who we have become since then. In a celebratory conclusion, the encore leaned further into the simple joys of the nostalgic as she serenaded us with fan favorite “Supernova” off of her sophomore album Whip-Smart, brought out Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner to join her for “Go West,” and her Top 40 breakthrough “Why Can’t I” for a finale of arena-sized proportions. A then-and-now look at a fruitful career from its inception to the present, the night was an energetic exchange of gratitude between Phair and her fans, commemorating artistry that supersedes the test of time. Check out the setlist here!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!

*Photos from this performance were featured on LIZ PHAIR’s Instagram on 11/28/23.