Lily Allen’s more than just a girl

[Guest blogger Chris Barton finds it somewhat unsettling that he enjoys something on pop radio.]

Anyone stlll thinking the great, Internet-born Lily Allen craze had crested and been replaced by the Amy Winehouses of the world obviously wasn't anywhere near her set at an overflowing Mojave tent.

Backed by a full band and horn section that would've done the Skatalites proud, Allen confidently bounded through material from her MySpace-bred debut album "Alright, Still" with a brash confidence that recalled a smarter, sassier Gwen Stefani -- at least before Gwen became the eeriely airbrushed pop cyborg of today.

Beyond the superficial resemblances in sound and attitude, would the former singer for No Doubt have apologized for forgetting a few lyrics as a result of having a couple of spliffs earlier in the day? Would she so readily incite a tent full of women to scream in support as she bluntly introduced "Not Big," a song about the hardship of living with a man's, um, shortcomings? Not likely.

Dressed in her usual assortment of Lily-ana (hoop earrings, poofy dress, trainers), the London native strolled across both sides of the stage with the occasional cigarette and charisma to burn, not even letting the day's elephant in the room shadow what must've been one of her most successful shows stateside. After the crowd cheered in appreciation at her passing mention of the night's headliners, Allen was unfazed.

"I've never heard of them," she said with a devilish grin. "But apparently they're quite big."

Photo by Chris Barton / LAT