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Having missed Lilith last year, I was feeling very guilty for not participating in the
premier chic music event of our time, so I had to make it for it this year. A big
Sarah McLachlan fan, I knew a night of her would be enough for a good time, but this night
also held Natalie Merchant and Bonnie Raitt. A long meeting at work prevented me
from getting in early enough for the second stage acts, and I also missed Erykah Badu and
Meredith Brooks on the main stage, but still got a good feeling for this evening of
soulful sisters. There were about 70% women in attendance and the crowd was calm,
but thoroughly into the music, proving that women don't need men to buy their tickets and
take them to concerts.
First Bonnie Raitt, who I had not seen before, but have admired for a long time, since
the early 80s with her great CD Green Light (of which she played nothing).
What a strong performer and awesome guitarist. She lit
through many of her popular tunes including, Something to Talk About, I Can't Make You
Love Me, Thing Called Love, Love Letter, and a great rendition of Angel From Montgomery.
Bonnie's career spans three complete decades. She writes of lost love and despair,
so poignantly, yet not sentimentally. She is the perfect strong mother figure to
head up this girl power festival. A tribute to the Fabulous Thunderbirds and a visit
from Meredith Brooks (who absolutely rocked on electric guitar) rounded out her set.
Natalie Merchant, formerly of 10,000 Maniacs, but now out on her own for several years,
has a unique voice and flowing style. She sang songs from the new CD Ophelia,
with the hit Kind and Generous (thank you , thank you) but also provided other hits like
Jealousy from Tigerlillies. Missing was representation of her stuff from
10k Maniac days. Natalie had an ongoing conversation with a grasshopper for most of
the show and seemed a bit out of focus. She was less ethereal than when I had seen
her before and more scattered. She ended the set swinging in a great big swing out
over the audience, which you just have to love. Looked like fun. The
obligatory ending had Sarah McLachlan joining Natalie on stage and the power of their
beautiful voices together was mesmerizing.
Finally, Sarah takes the stage to finish things up at this chic fest. I love
Sarah McLachlan and have seen her many times before, but this night, I did not feel was
her best. Possibly, the festival format or the distance of my lawn seats from the
stage hindered by enjoyment a bit, but I didn't feel that Sarah was as calm or focused as
I had seen her in the past. Nevertheless, her voice is absolutely a stunning gem. No
one sings as spiritually and moving as Sarah. She has deep range and soulful
movements to accompany songs like Building a Mystery, Adia, and Sweet Surrender. Sarah is
as comfortable at the guitar as at the piano, or just singing alone at the mike. A
crowd favorite was Ice Cream with everyone singing along. Missing was my personal favorite
Good Enough as well as the song You Do What You Have to Do from the new CD Surfacing,
but I still thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The big finish had the entire cast of women
joining Sarah on stage for a rendition of Marvin Gaye's, What's Going On, complete with
modified lyrics of Sister, Sister instead of the standard Brother, Brother. Lilith
was a spectacle to behold, a triumph for women, and a great evening of music and
entertainment. I am moved by Sarah's commitment to her female counterparts.
On That Note, I'm outta here......
C
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