Rock me all night (or at least until 11)
I've read in several interviews that Liz Phair suffered from fairly crippling stage fright early in her career. Based on the show she put on Saturday night at Jannus Landing, I have a hard time believing it. I can't remember another artist being this comfortable with an audience. It's pretty difficult to come up with another explanation for opening a show with 3 solo acoustic songs, unless of course that's your thing. If she were a can't miss artist with legions of fans, she could probably open with a xylophone solo and everyone would follow. But this is a singer that's been fighting backlash from her unjustly infamous self-titled album of a couple of years ago. But I am happy to report that 1) there are obviously still plenty of people who see her for the fantastic songwriter she is, and 2) she's obviously having more fun than ever.
Despite the fun of the acoustic opening, it was when the band came out that the fun really began. Alright, so she's no guitar hero - she held the guitar vertically by the neck during "Rock Me," and during another song when a string broke, the seconds it took to change guitars sounded no different. But she has quite the magnetic stage presence: taking votes on what song to play, banter that never felt forced, smiling almost constantly.
I'm also happy to report that those "sell-out" songs held their own alongside songs from Exile in Guyville, despite the absence of most of that dreaded studio flash. Nevertheless, the best moment did come from that first album. "Divorce Song" has always been one of my favorites from Exile, but I wondered how it would come off in the jolly spirit of the evening. But the performance was not jarring - in fact, a slight change of pacing and tone to the music turned it into a completely different yet still fantastic song, even allowing for a small jam session for the talented band where the harmonica solo usually is.
A brief word about Liz' opening act, Matt Pond PA. There are two things you should be aware of with these guys: 1) they have a cellist, and 2) Entertainment Weekly describes their music as something you listen to "while looking at a picture of your ex." Take that information and use it
as you see fit.
It's nice to be liked
But it's better by far to get paid
- Liz Phair, "Sh*tloads of Money"
Posted by Joel at 10/09/2005 10:25:00 PM
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