I just got back...
I pretty much agree with Sparky's review of the L.A. show.
The pacing of the show has improved vastly since Las Vegas, as have the visuals projected across the video screens. The editing of the visuals was particularly improved...No unicorns prancing across water here!
"Enchanted" still doesn't feel quite right as the show opener. It's an upbeat song, but I feel something else would serve better to kick off her concerts.
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" was okay. "Outside The Rain" was excellent; at one point she was
almost speaking in tongues. The line,
Love is a word that some entertain and, if you find it you have won the game was cut off a bit at the beginning due to the microphone's placement, but the words and Stevie's delivery maintained their emotional "oomph." The now-familiar segue into "Dreams" came, and I am one of the few who still enjoys that song in concert.
"Rhiannon" opened with the same dark grand piano solo as in Las Vegas. As in
The Dance, the lilting piano melody gave way to a slower introduction ending in "He still cries out for her..." In my opinion, this is
the best "Rhiannon" performed in a long time--since at least '97. It no longer is a slow point as was the case during the SYW tour. At the end Miss Nicks yelled "Well I don't think you'd do" several times, punctuating each with a point of her finger and motion of her head. Very well done, an improvement upon Las Vegas. "Sorcerer" came next, and she sang the heck out of being tired and thirsty and wild-eyed, inquiring who found the lady from the mountain.
"Stand Back" was just awesome--good and fun and danceable as it ever has been. I noticed a good amount of twirls, attitude, and even a high kick at the end. As the lights went down, the opening chords of "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You" rang out. It was dedicated to her nieces and nephews in the area and also to a man named Bob Fogelberg (I think?) whom she went to community college with (he really supported her dreams during those years). Turns out Stevie went to College of San Mateo, which is where I'll be in a couple years. While talking about her time spent in this area, how both what she is and what she is doing now have their roots here, there were tears in her eyes. I thought her performance dripped with emotion, and it brought some extra water into my eyes. (This was my first "HAEWAFY" in concert.)
"Gold Dust Woman" was a definite highlight--I think this one is better without Fleetwood Mac. Waddy does some oriental-sounding guitar work at the beginning that builds quite an aural atmosphere. There are also some dark, ominous...almost "whisper" noises that have been added to the instrumentation. She gave a good performance, and the anguished scream was less like "The Dance" and more like a stronger version of the cries towards the end of the
Rumours album cut. Liked the "baby you can't save me now" etc. towards the end. Next up was "Circle Dance," and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Stevie did a good job interperting the song, although some people choose to get booze refills at that point.
The Gold Dust Tour band was introduced, and then they all launched into "Fall From Grace." There was some added spunk in tonight's "Fall From Grace," and I think Stevie has begun to feel comfortable performing it. Unfortunately, I could not make out whether she hit the "surviiiiiiiiive" note because Jana Anderson seemed to be singing a little too loudly. It still rocked pretty hard.
Stevie dedicated "Landslide" to Vanessa Carlton, and of course to the audience. "Landslide" was very nice, and seeing pictures of her throughout life was a nice touch. I'm not sure I am crazy about the harmonies added a la her original vision of "Landslide;" I like to hear just her singing those timeless lines.
When the drum solo before "Edge of Seventeen" began, I got myself into my wheelchair and headed for the stage. I managed to get on the leftmost side of the stage. "Edge of Seventeen" was wonderful, once again at least as good as it ever has been. A young woman was nice enough to help me up, and I was one of the first people to shake Stevie's hand. I said 'thank you,' and apparently she can read lips because she mouthed back 'you're welcome.' That was really nice, and I'm glad I could be right up there this time. "Edge of Seventeen" rocked until its climax, and then I didn't quite know what was next on the setlist.
Stevie came out wearing pants and a top hat. She did Elvis-like motions with her knees and legs. She belted out "Rock and Roll." Lots of energy and animation, she bowed her top hat at the end. I was impressed.
"Beauty and the Beast" was good. Her voice and conviction were spot on, dramatic to the last note...but nothing compares to unexpectedly seeing it performed at Caesar's Palace in the Colosseum.
I had a wonderful time, and overall this was an improvement on the Las Vegas show I saw (5/13).
07-31-2005, 03:37 AM
*sigh, sob* 
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