Tonight Diane and I will be seeing Sarah McLachlan in concert at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in downtown Buffalo. This will be our third Sarah McLachlan concert. The previous two concerts thrilled us with the great sound and Sarah’s rapport with the audience. We loved Sarah’s latest album, Laws of Illusion. I’m sure she’ll be singing plenty of those songs tonight. Here’s what the New York Times thought of her most recent CD: “The songs are as direct as Ms. McLachlan’s have ever been, and as finely tuned…The album is as lush and measured…It’s a collection of ballads, hymns, and waltzes, sung in long arcs of melody with a voice that enfolds its strength in breathy intimacy. Acoustic instruments gleam, with unearthly keyboards and electric guitars billowing up around them.” For a sample of the music we’ll be enjoying tonight, click below:
We’re seeing the play OF MICE AND MEN tonight. I’d rather be with Sarah.
I’ve read OF MICE AND MEN, seen the play version, and the movie version, Patti. That’s enough OF MICE AND MEN for me.
Enjoy!
My only trepidation about this Sarah McLachlan concert is that Sarah is apparently doing some audience “involvement” stuff, Jeff. I’m afraid that could prove to be deadly dull (or stupid). I’m from the Old School that says “Just shut up and play.”
Agreed. When we go to off-Broadway shows I always want to avoid the front row (or center aisle) for fear of “involuntary audience participation” sections. If I wanted to perform I’d be up on the stage (assuming I had any talent, of course, which I don’t).
I feel the same way, Jeff. The involvement I want is to witness a great performance. I don’t need to be a part of the performance.
Eh. Part of the reason to go out on tour, particularly when you’ve reached a certain level of fame and might find it difficult to play a coffeehouse any longer, is to try to connect, however slightly, with the audience.
So, of course, do let us know how it goes…I see she’s been working out, from those photos. I should emulate, but I doubt the results will be as pleasing (she looked good before she started working out).
I don’t mind performers making comments between songs, Todd. But most of the “audience participation” schemes I’ve witnessed have been lame.
Patti – say hi to Lenny for me.
George – enjoy the concert, that is a nice song.
Todd – I noticed how that connect with the audience thing worked for Miles. Ha!
I like most of Sarah McLachlan’s music, Rick. The last two concerts we saw her perform were excellent. If Sarah McLachlan comes to your area, I’d highly recommend you go see her.
Yes, but the audience was lucky Davis didn’t try to assault them.
Miles Davis was prickly, wasn’t he, Todd.
That exact thing happened to Phil at a place in Austin. Our B & B lady told us to tell them she sent us and naively we did and they sat us on the aisle, second row. They never let up on Phil the whole night. We also didn’t know it was a gay-themed revue. Yikes. Poor Phil.
I’ve seen unsuspecting (and unwilling) audience members get hijacked into a performance, Patti. I consider it cruel and unusual punishment. Fortunately, Sarah McLachlan’s audience participation exercise was Sarah answering questions from audience members. One question, “Do you have any pre-performance rituals?” resulted in Sarah confessing she spanks her backup players on the butt before they all go on-stage.
Add me to the group that hates audience involvement. Whenever I hear someone on stage yell, “Everybody sing!” I want to scream, “I didn’t buy a ticket to listen to these people.”
Sara’s touching song during the ASPCA ads almost make me send in a pledge. The reason I don’t is that I know I’ll end up on 50 sucker lists and have to deal with thousands of unwelcome solicitations for the rest of my life.
Fortunately, Sarah limited the audience involvement to some Q&A, Bob. But there was still the woman who stood up for most of the performance (blocking the view of the people behind her) and had the dance moves of Elaine on SEINFELD. And then there was the other Sarah fan behind us who SANG every song…off key.
Och. Sorry about the those irritants, George.
I’d leave the “-ly” off that assessment of Davis.
The Captain could send cash or a money order to the ASPCA w/o giving his address…
And, yes, abuse of the audience bites.
No problem, Todd.