Musical artists Jack
Antonoff of fun. and Bleachers, Andrew Dost of fun., Lorde,
Carly Rae Jepsen, Charli XCX, Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES,
and comedians Jacqueline Novak, Jordan Carlos, Hasan Minhaj, Mike Birbiglia
and Antonoff's girlfriend, Lena Dunham,
helped the not-for-profit Ally Coalition generate awareness and more than
$100,000 in funds in support of homeless LGBTQ youth tonight at Webster Hall's Grand Ballroom. The band
fun. and designer Rachel Antonoff (Jack
Antonoff's sister) created the Ally Coalition (TAC) in 2012 with the purpose of
inspiring people, in particular their peers in the music, fashion and entertainment
industry, to take action for LGBTQ equality. Tonight's event, billed as the
Third Annual Ally Coalition Talent Show, benefited New Alternatives for Youth, a
New York-based not-for-profit organization which provides safe spaces and
services to LGBTQ youth.
Andrew Dost of fun. performed a brief set at the piano which
featured a song called "Young Republicans," which he described as
apropos considering that "times are getting pretty dark."
Jacqueline Novak, a New York-based stand-up comedian and
writer, has performed on late night television and in comedy festivals, has
released a comedy album, and authored 2016's How to Weep in Public: Feeble Offerings on Depression from Someone Who
Knows.
Lauren Mayberry, lead singer of CHVRCHES, covered Katy Perry's
"Firework" and Joni Mitchell's "Case of You."
Comedian Jordan Carlos became the de facto host for part of
the evening and did a "Black Trump" impersonation.
Carly Rae Jepsen provided a soft, acoustic set featuring "Your
Type" and "Run Away With Me."
Carly Rae Jepsen and Jack Antonoff sang a duet on a
Bleachers song, "Shadow."
The Daily Show's
Hasan Minhaj, a Muslim American, said that "being at a Trump rally is like
being at a haunted house with the lights on."
Rather than performing a stand-up comedy act, Lena Dunham led
the audience in a motivational self-help call-and-response chant.
Charli XCX sang a simplified version of "After the
After Party" accompanied only by a keyboardist.
Charli XCX sang simplified versions of "Boom Clap"
accompanied by Jack Antonoff on guitar.
Jack Antonoff opened the show with a cover of the National's
"Bloodbuzz Ohio." Antonoff later performed a solo acoustic version of
Bleachers' "I Wanna Get Better" and "Rollercoaster."
Lorde's appearance was a surprise, replacing Kesha who cancelled
due to an injury. Lorde, who has been working with Antonoff on her second
album, sat next to Antonoff on a piano bench to sing a cover of Robyn's "Hang
With Me."
For the finale, all the performers sang Fleetwood Mac's "Go
Your Own Way."
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