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indie-snob>+!#
liz phair @ the metro (8-21-03)
with wheat |
 Somehow, it's hard to contain one's enthusiasm after being front row and center at a Liz Phair concert, with her watching you sing along to the songs, smiling every now and then. Sure, her new album is no indie-masterpiece, but it is one for the pop world to marvel at and maybe even take some pointers from Liz's still-stellar lyrics. The band to open was a Boston-area band by the name of Wheat. Actually, I had high hopes for the band after remembering that they opened for the Flaming Lips last year. Afterall, anyone who opens for the Flaming Lips must be pretty darn awesome right? Meh, not really. After Wheat's set, I was pretty unimpressed. Some moments triumphed in a thick texture of beautiful melodies and guitar parts (and some faint keyboard noises) that even reminded me of Death Cab for Cutie. But mostly, the band reminded me more of something along the lines of Soul Asylum, and no one should have to face that. Mediocre performance, but the drummer was sure interesting. He was singing along to parts that were nonexistant. Perhaps he has a better idea of how the songs should sound... Let's face it. Liz Phair moved out of Bucktown in Chicago so long ago, it's a wonder we still think of Chicago as home for her. But this psuedo-hometown crowd certainly could pose as the real one. The small theatre filled with original Liz Phair fans, devoted ones, too. Two guys drove up from Memphis, but everyone I talked to was disappointed with the new Liz Phair, but we all agreed that we must accept her last effort as a pop album, and let the goddess Liz Phair do what she fucking wants to do. Liz Phair took the stage looking a little too adorable. Her pink v-neck t-shirt and black and white striped skirt kept her new image while maintaining some of her ex-indie charm. I was happy to see a full arsenal of guitars and picks at Liz's disposal indicating that tonight would be more than "Self-Titled Revisited." Opening with "6'1"," it was already hard not to love this woman. Her comments between songs were so cute but scintillating at the same time, such as: "I like it hot!" or "Hot enought out there for you? I know I can make it hotter!" (It was, afterall, in the upper-90s today, with not-so-complete air conditioning on the Metro's behalf.) Really sticking mainly to the old songs, she struck some very wonderful numbers with "Polyester Bride" (one of my more favorite recent Liz Phair songs), "Never Said," "Divorce Song," "Uncle Alvarez"... oh jeez. Every song Liz played was magical! It was unbelievable! Most wonderfully, though, was probably "Glory," which just came off as such a beautiful piece and done solo, as was "Stratford-On-Guy." Off her new album, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a more modest versions of "Rock Me," "Why Can't I," "Extraoridinary." Ending her set with "Supernova," Liz came out for a substantial encore for the screaming fans. "Little Digger" sounded lovely live, as I felt it was one of the more personal songs on the album. She also took a request from a fan to sing a duet of "Flower" for her birthday. With the help of the entire audience, the piece was beautiful. She ended things with, of course, "Fuck and Run." Liz seemed to enjoy herself tremendously throughout the course of the evening. Whatever music critic angst she held onto before from the Chicago scene, I think it's now time to let go, as the three sold-out shows should prove that Chicago really is the city for Liz Phair. A really great show. In all honesty: wonderful. I was lucky enough to get a copy of the setlist, so here it is. 6'1" Encore: ** denotes addition to printed setlist Remember how I reviewed the self-titled album? No? Check it out: [[by clicking here]] *Note: Tomorrow I see Múm with the Animal Collective and Saturday I see Radiohead with Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, so stay tuned! |