Quick Links
Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
Categories
Archives
XML/RSS Feed
Friends
Usuals
Comments powered by
Site Meter Web Counter
Statistics
Total entries in this blog:
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Aug 02, 2005 03:59 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Aug 02, 2005 03:59 PM
Liz Phair
7/30, World Cafe Live
First, this was our first concert at World Cafe
Live (I refuse to put in the exclamation point), the relatively new
performance space, devoted to all things xpn. The upstairs is a bar area with live music,
which seemed nice. The main performance space was quite good I thought. It is
set up like a cabaret of sorts (or like a comedy club), with long 8- and
10-person tables perpendicular to the stage. The ambience is good, as were the
acoustics. I also like being able to be served while still watching the show,
and the servers were largely unobtrusive. So, overall, good work
xpn.
Now, Liz. Not quite sure when I first heard and then become a fan of Liz. It was around when Exile in Guyville came out, and I knew that I was instantly smitten. She had (and still has) a great honesty and creativity about her. Also, there was a lot of the funny, which is so rare. I, like many others, was not a huge fan of her latest eponymous release--though not because of the overproduction or commercialism of it which so many found "un-Liz" (whatever that may be), but because it just seemed a bit hokey in spots, something which she'd manage to avoid (see her response to critics in this good NYT article).
So, this was my first time seeing her live, and in something of a strange context, as she's doing this tour acoustic, supported simply by her boyfriend guitarist. I would love to see her rock out, because in many ways she is such a rock chick (to me, her spiritual aunts are Ann & Nancy Wilson), but I loved her just the same, because she was onstage everything I love about her--funny, sexy (she sported quite the mini), and creative.
Thankfully she did some of my favorite songs by her: "Polyester Bride" (which I really should have put on Paul and Laurie's playlist), "Fuck and Run," "Flower," "Supernova," "Extraordinary," "Divorce Song" (one of the best "real" songs about a relationship dying), "Uncle Alvarez," and "6'1"." The new songs she played seemed fine, though I feel like she is verging on the cheesy with the first single off the new album "Everything to Me."
Performance-wise, she was simply awesome. I am a voice person--I generally like/hate music based on the voice--and I was surprised by how strong her voice is. Not that I thought she had a weak voice, but I just always assume that people's voices will be weaker then I expect because they are so often doubled on recordings. However, hers was strong and versatile. It was interesting though that her voice has changed...and gotten higher, because she stopped smoking (yeah, I know)--she called herself "the anti-matter of rock."
Regardless, it was a great, fun show, and I can't wait until she tours again.
Now, Liz. Not quite sure when I first heard and then become a fan of Liz. It was around when Exile in Guyville came out, and I knew that I was instantly smitten. She had (and still has) a great honesty and creativity about her. Also, there was a lot of the funny, which is so rare. I, like many others, was not a huge fan of her latest eponymous release--though not because of the overproduction or commercialism of it which so many found "un-Liz" (whatever that may be), but because it just seemed a bit hokey in spots, something which she'd manage to avoid (see her response to critics in this good NYT article).
So, this was my first time seeing her live, and in something of a strange context, as she's doing this tour acoustic, supported simply by her boyfriend guitarist. I would love to see her rock out, because in many ways she is such a rock chick (to me, her spiritual aunts are Ann & Nancy Wilson), but I loved her just the same, because she was onstage everything I love about her--funny, sexy (she sported quite the mini), and creative.
Thankfully she did some of my favorite songs by her: "Polyester Bride" (which I really should have put on Paul and Laurie's playlist), "Fuck and Run," "Flower," "Supernova," "Extraordinary," "Divorce Song" (one of the best "real" songs about a relationship dying), "Uncle Alvarez," and "6'1"." The new songs she played seemed fine, though I feel like she is verging on the cheesy with the first single off the new album "Everything to Me."
Performance-wise, she was simply awesome. I am a voice person--I generally like/hate music based on the voice--and I was surprised by how strong her voice is. Not that I thought she had a weak voice, but I just always assume that people's voices will be weaker then I expect because they are so often doubled on recordings. However, hers was strong and versatile. It was interesting though that her voice has changed...and gotten higher, because she stopped smoking (yeah, I know)--she called herself "the anti-matter of rock."
Regardless, it was a great, fun show, and I can't wait until she tours again.
Posted: Tue - August 2, 2005 at 03:37 PM |