What a great concert, even if we were soaking in the rain the entire time.
k.d. lang was first up, and I was stunned by two things. First, her voice was incredible, strong, and perfect, better than I had hoped for. Second, she was the happiest person I think I've ever seen on stage. It wasn't just that she smiled and danced around a little and obviously enjoyed herself. She freakin glowed.
After one song she had dedicated to her brother or dad (no idea which, I don't remember the name she said only that it ended with Lang) she broke down crying. The audience shouted words of encouragement and love and it was very nice. She tried to start the next song but couldn't the first try. But boy oh boy the second...
That brings up the eternal question, can Leonard Cohen write a song that even Leonard Cohen doesn't have the range for?
She did the best rendition of Hallelujah I have ever heard, and for some reason I've heard quite a few recently. She actually has the voice for it, and she blew it out of the park (well, we were at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, so technically she blew it out of the winery grounds). It was stunning. Worth the entire price plus the rain right there.
Lyle Lovett followed after what appeared to be a 100% equipment change, he and his Large Band put on a great show. I've noticed a difference between some performers. There are those like k.d. who put on a great show because of their tremendous talents and your enjoyment of the songs they sing. There there are those that put on a show.
Elvis Costello was here last year at the same venue. His music was great, he was fun to listen to and I had a good time hearing him do songs that I had heard a million times and some than were new. But it was more than that.
It was a show.
The band is tight, the show is tight, the set is tight, the lighting is tight. Both Elvis and Lyle brought in extremely talented but not as well known musicians and not only weaved them into their own songs and performances but let them show their stuff. They made the night about way more than a set of songs they had written and have been performing for years, they made it a great experience. It is just head and shoulders above what most concerts are.
And for those who'd like to check out Lang performing it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE
Posted by: Random | 2007.07.22 at 16:02