05/21/05: Ethel, Joe Jackson & Todd Rundgren at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City


More than my money's worth with these three stellar performers

The Fox Theatre is the grand, old restored theatre in downtown Redwood City. I used to go see theatre there and hadn't been since it was converted to a concert space. I can safely say it has made the transition flawlessly.

First of all they have removed the bolted down theatre chairs in favor of folding chairs that can be removed, but are sufficiently padded and comfortable nonetheless. And they have retained a nice amount of leg room, so you don't have to get too intimate with the total strangers that sidle past you in the row.

And the acoustics in this pace are sweet. It has been a long time since I've been to a concert where the sound was so clear. No muddy bass, no painfully loud wall of sound. Even when the volume was a bit loud for me (and at one point for Joe Jackson too) it was clear and distinct.

This was the last night of the American tour for this group of performers, before heading off to Europe. I recently saw Sting on the first night of his American tour, and one thing is for certain...just like the theatre...seeing an Opening or Closing night has an energy all its own. This night they noted that the show was one of the first to sell out, so they all definitely felt like they were among friends.

The opening act was a rockin' string quartet called Ethel. They did a variety of modern pieces, at times incorporating foot stomps or slaps on their instruments to bring in a sense of percussion, but mostly it was just 4 string players rocking out. Wisely they have the cellist and violist up front, as they are the more expressive and emotive duo of the quartet, but by the end of their set even the more impassive violinists were grooving.

Joe Jackson was next. Just Joe and the piano. Looking a bit wraith-like, or perhaps just ascetic, he performed stripped-down versions of songs from his first album and on. He took on some of his hits, from Stepping Out to The Obvious Song, but he also performed lesser known songs, including a couple of my favorites, like Drowning from Laughter & Lust. His voice is still there, and he seemed relaxed and engaged. I have only seen Joe one other time, over 20 years ago, when he was definitely in his angry young man phase. At one point when the audience was yelling for him or for various songs during the quiet beginning of a ballad, he stopped the show to tell people that if they weren't there to actually listen to the music, they should get the fuck out! Last night Joe seemed genuinely touched at the rapturous response. He played one completely new tune, Citizen Sane, which featured his trademark barbed lyrics over melodious piano. It was a full hour from Joe and the piano and of course included Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Todd was up within a few minutes. A little more lively, a little more versatile...moving from guitar to piano to ukulele, Todd may have also been just a little less engaging. I've never seen Todd, although I've listened to his huge variety of recordings for over a decade. Some of my favorite songs are Todd songs.But through most of his performance he seemed a little more slick, a little less sincere. His voice is still amazing. He soars up there, and you would never believe 20 years had passed since some of his hits. Just a really flexible and pleasant voice.

Of course, we were al waiting for the culmination of this evening, when these three acts would play together, and we were not disappointed. First Joe came back out with Ethel and sang a couple of numbers, including one incredible take on a punk tune from his very first album.

Then Todd joined them all.

My favorite number of the night was probably Todd and Ethel playing Pretending to Care off Todd's A Cappella album. Of course on the album all the backing chords were performed by voices (all tracks of Todd's voice to be specific) and here they were performed to stunning effect by the quartet. It was the only song Todd really seemed to sing straight from his heart...and show his vulnerability, rather than maintaining a sense of irony.

The whole crew closed with a take on George Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps, which drew a warm sigh of recognition from the baby boomer crowd.

When the show let out after over 3 solid hours of music, there wasn't a person left wanting...including me.

Posted: Sun - May 22, 2005 at 09:03 AM       EmailFeedback

©