|
||||
|
||||
|
Sunday, Jul 06, 2008
|
||||
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
k.d. lang shines at Moore Theatre |
|
 |
|
| k.d. lang shines at Moore Theatre | |
|
by Richard Kennedy -
SGN A&E Writer k.d. lang March 19 Moore Theatre k.d. lang has gone through a "re-invention" of sorts. With her first album of all new material in eight years, completely self-produced and on a new record label, it comes as no surprise that her "Watershed Tour" would leave behind some of the staples of her previous concerts and focus mainly on current material. The classic lang tunes were few and far between, but the ones she did fit in were rare and much-welcomed by her fans at the Moore Theatre on Wednesday evening. Opening the first of a two night run with "Upstream," the Grammy-winning crooner embarked on a subtly themed evening centered around water and everything it metaphorically represents. "A halo promise in a sinner's dream, the punch line is I always swim upstream," she softly sang as she glided across stage, moving her arms as though they were in a pool of water. The casually dressed crowd was largely comprised of Lesbians and a considerable amount of Gay men and straight couples. lang received a typical warm welcome with her first number in a billowy silk button up, black trousers with matching vest, and a classic kerchief tied around her neck. A true musician can touch more of the senses of a listener than just sound. Electric and upright bass beats, combined with soft percussive accompaniment, created the mood of water dropping from a leaf and even the smell of a soft stream. Songs from Watershed, like "Thread" and "Flame of the Uninspired" flowed together brilliantly with a backdrop that created liquid-like ripple images. Even when surprising the fans with the Shadowland selection "Western Stars," you still felt enveloped by the purity of a rainstorm. The Canadian chanteuse effortlessly pushed her voice through three different octaves while revisiting that favorite. "Hello Seattle! We've been touring the East Coast and our mantra the whole time was 'west coast & west coast,'" she joked. Continuing with a selection from Ingénue, she melted everyone's hearts with "Wash Me Clean" before turning to one of the standout tracks on the new album, "I Dream of Spring." lang, mellow and subdued, began, "She arrives like autumn in a rainstorm, the threat of thunder above. I'll return from the streets of Melbourne, I'll return my love." As always, her songs are passionate, longing and poetic. The new material is similar to Ingénue, but not as tortured or haunted. This re-invented lang finds serenity in her music more so than in the past. She didn't revisit "Miss Chatelaine," but she has not lost her sense of humor. "Smoke Rings" from Drag found the country crossover traipsing around the stage and serenading her surprisingly hot band. "I'm perplexed that at my age I've taken to surrounding myself with handsome young men!" she quipped while introducing her top-notch musicians. Unlike her previous performance in Seattle with a full orchestra, this time she was backed by quintessential lang instruments: steel guitars, basses, percussion, keyboards, synthesizers, organ and even some homemade contraptions. After "Smoke Rings," she asked, "Didn't Laura Bush used to sell pot?" When someone in the audience shouted, "No, it was George!" lang dryly responded, "Well, he really shouldn't have stopped!" Another usual selection, Roy Orbison's "Crying," was not visited, but instead a pairing of Jane Siberry's "The Valley" and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" brought her mesmerized listeners through a heart-wrenching journey of compassion and desire. Her voice soared through the latter, giving me chills and making me take note of many people around me wiping tears from their eyes. Captivated and silent, not a sound was made through the final soft note, leaving the Lesbian icon breathless. By the end of the concert, lang made sure to do her biggest hit, "Constant Craving," but it wasn't until the encores that she really pulled out her biggest surprise with "Pay Dirt" from her breakthrough album, Angel With a Lariat. Paying homage to her "alt country" days, she performed with the band surrounding her, all sharing an old '50s-style microphone. She even danced a jig barefoot around them during the instrumental break! The final track of Watershed closed the show. "Jealous Dog" is a quirky ballad of extreme irony and a touch of humor, and even though she plucked a banjo, she sang the lyrics with complete seriousness. "I walked into a house of prayer; I didn't feel so welcome there. I was looking for the hand of God, when it struck me I was hit by fraud." Clever, poignant and fresh, her lyrics and music are only topped by her phenomenal vocals. lang has always walked her own path and Seattle fans - as evidenced on this night - are more than happy to go on the journey with her. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 post your own information onthe Seattle Gay Blog |
 |
copyright Seattle Gay News - DigitalTeamWorks 2007
USA Gay News American News American Gay News USA American Gay News United States American Lesbian News USA American Lesbian News United States USA News
USA Gay News American News American Gay News USA American Gay News United States American Lesbian News USA American Lesbian News United States USA News