Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Sarah McLachlan

While lots of people here in Dallas were watching the Rangers game, which ended sadly- I went to see Sarah McLachlan, which made me very happy!
I've never seen Sarah live before, although I own a couple of her DVDs.  So, I have seen her in concert, but never from anywhere other than the comfort of my own home. 

I wasn't planning to see her last night.  But then I saw her face on the cover of a section of my morning newspaper and realized I really wanted to see her.  I bought a ticket last minute and hitched a ride with some friends.

I loved her Fumbling Towards Ecstasy CD years ago, and have bought everything she's put out since, and before that.  Our relationship was at it's peak years ago, but I will always love and be inspired by her.

It worked out perfectly that this was the concert of hers that I got to attend.  I like things that at least feel intimate.  She was able to make the Nokia Theater (which is actually called something else now, but I refuse to keep with all of those name changes!) feel like a coffee house. A big coffee house.

She didn't have an opening performer, but instead surprised the crowd by coming out just a few minutes after the 8pm start time.  She then said that she would be doing this concert a little differently and hoped we would open our minds and our hearts...

It was the "Sarah and Friends" show.  Like a teeny Lilith Fair.  Two of the girls she had as a part of her band are singer/songwriters themselves and they each performed four of their own songs, and Sarah was part of their back up band.
Butterfly Boucher




Melissa McClelland
I have to admit that for about the first quarter of the show I was thinking maybe I was sort of over Sarah.  I just wasn't blown away as I expected to be.  But, of course, once she sang some of her older songs like "The Path of Thorns" and "Hold On", it was easy to remember why I love the woman and her music so much.

At the beginning of the concert she told people to write down any question they had for her, "nothing is off limits", and she would answer them between songs.  It was a cool way to connect with a big audience. 

Her final song (not including the encore song, "Angel"), was "Possession".  It had such a great build to the final ending of the song where she hit this huge and high note and got a standing ovation.  Granted, it was the last song of the concert, but I think the standing ovation would've happened anyway because it was awe-inspiring.

Sarah Mclachlan has been a huge influence on me over the years that I have been a songwriter.  I am so glad I got to see her last night.  I am re-inspired...

15 comments:

this free bird said...

I used to see her in a small on-campus coffee house when I attended the University of Alberta. We'd stroll in for happy hour or even lunch and there she'd be w/her guitar in the corner. It still amazes me today. I would see her multiple times in a week, month and YEAR!

So happy you got to check her out where she's at now.

xoxo,
Carrie

Marie a la Mode said...

I love Sarah.I prefer her older albums to her newer ones though. I've seen her live, too and she's amazing! She's a Canadian treasure that's for sure.

Anonymous said...

She has an amazing voice. I really like her. I haven't been to a concert the whole year and I really miss it! I love live music.

Rob said...

"I have to admit that for about the first quarter of the show I was thinking maybe I was sort of over Sarah."

I had the same experience years and years ago at an Incubus show. At the time, i LOVED Incubus (still do) but after the show left feeling a little disappointed.

Unlike the Sarah show, Brad and the guys from Incubus didn't interact with crowd at all. Don't get me wrong, musically they were amazing. Great musicians but I could saved some time and money by simply listening to the CD.

this free bird said...

Kerri I totally thought she was great back then. It was so interesting because she would play at the UofA in this pub we had, and then she graduated to local indie houses and I'd check her there too. I like her old stuff a little more so no matter where she is I'd still like to hear her. Last night I watched the Felicity pilot episode and her music was used. Totally took me back!

xo,
c

Elizabeth Halt said...

I flew to Minneapolis to see her with my sister maybe 7 or so years ago. It was definitely not intimate, but I loved it regardless. Butterfly Boucher did the pre-show and I went out and bought her CD afterwards.

the chirpy bird said...

Nothing like live music! I often wonder why I don't make the effort to go and be a part of more! You've inspired me to pick up my socks!
xox tash

jacqueline said...

Dearest sweet kerri, loving this post so much. :) I am a huge fan of Sarah and was lucky enough to catch her live a couple of times! She is awesome!! Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you!

Unknown said...

Oh, cool. You know, I would have had the same initial feeling, eh, kind of over her, but then I would have gotten into it, I'm sure. Butterfly Boucher is actually really great, I've heard her before! XX!

Kerri said...

yes, i had a butterfly boucher cd i bought several years back so i was familiar with her- but not with melissa mclleland- she was AWESOME! i hope you all will check her out.

soleil said...

I LOVE SARAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Nokia is definitely a great venue. You are spot on that it feels intimate even though it is sizeable.
I fell in love with Sarah when Fumbling was released. I remember how excited I was to go to her concert during the Fumbling tour. I haven't heard the new album yet, but I still have a soft soft spot in my heart for Sarah and probably always will. She was my favorite musician for the longest time and really carried me through my adolescence.

What a great song to end on too! Possession and Fear are my all time favorites.

Now I need to check her tour dates to see if she is coming to the desert or if I've already missed her. . .

Robin Norgren, M.A, R-YT, Spiritual Director said...

I have only seen Sarah once-years ago at a lilith fair in Phoenix-so glad to hear she STILL puts on a good show.

amy friend said...

i fell in love with her very first cd...and saw her in concert many times in austin. the backyard concerts were the best! her newer stuff is so very sad, and just not my thing....but i'm still sad that i missed her on the 3rd in austin. glad you made it out to see her!

Laurie said...

Glad you enjoyed the show and I, too, was bummed about the Rangers. Wha? Cliff Lee is human?!?!? Who knew??? ;-)

judge david said...

Fumbling Toward Ecstasy is a top-5 album in my world. Start to finish, it's chilling. Had backstage passes to one of the first Liliths but had a conflict and couldn't go. DANG!

Glad you enjoyed the show. It's a bummer when you anticipate something and it winds up not living up to expectations.