|
"Even better than the album." That's how several fans assessed it last night as Natalie Merchant brought the music of her latest album, "Motherland," to Honolulu for a one-nighter at the Sheraton Waikiki. Natalie Merchant
wows crowdReviewed by John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comIt's going way out on a limb this early in the year, but I'll call this one as likely to stand as one of the best concerts Honolulu will see in 2002.
It was an excellent performance by a charismatic artist.
Merchant -- one-time lead vocalist of 10,000 Maniacs, now almost 10 years into a successful career as a multi-platinum solo artist -- featured just over half the songs from "Motherland" while not slighting fans of her two prior studio albums, "Tigerlilly" and "Ophelia." As in her show here in 1998, Merchant said relatively little. She let her lyrics, free-form houri-like dancing, and the rich textures of her singing voice speak for her.
Merchant has one of the great voices in modern rock and it sounded especially rich and expressive last night.
|
Merchant took the stage without an introduction and opened with "Motherland." She performed for almost a half-hour before addressing the crowd."Am I supposed to welcome you?" she asked, saying it seemed strange for a visitor to be welcoming us to Hawaii.
Comments from the audience proved Merchant's wisdom in opening with several back-to-back songs and generally keeping the communication process a one-way affair. A woman yelled out "Is this your first trip to Hawaii?" -- and Merchant answered her more graciously than several impatient fans.
Asked what she was doing after the show, she said, "Playing Scrabble with Erik and going skydiving in the morning!"
Merchant was more animated than in her 1998 show. She performed for almost 20 more minutes even though last night's show started about 30 minutes late. She opened with "Motherland," the title song of her current album, skipped "Ophelia, but otherwise covered a good selection of older songs as well as much of her new music.
"Carnival" and "Wonder" --the songs that established her as solo artist on the Hot 100 -- were both there. "Wonder" was greeted with particularly enthusiastic applause.
"Build A Levee" and "Put The Law On You" were part of the powerful opening suite that defined the first third of the performance. Two more songs from the "Motherland" album -- "Saint Judas" and "This House In On Fire" closed the main set and primed the crowd for the single three-song encore.
The crowd loved her but seemed more subdued than in 1998. There was less dancing this time. There also appeared to be fewer lei and flower gifts, although she still received enough lei to share one apiece with each member of her excellent quintet.
Merchant added a light and bright note to the evening when she led the audience in a brief a capella rendition of the Monkees' "Daydream Believer" but otherwise kept the show focused on her own hits.
Performances: 8 p.m. tomorrow at Kauai Marriott Resort; and 8 p.m. Sunday, A&B Amphitheater, Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Natalie Merchant
Tickets: $40 on Kauai; and $30 and $40 on Maui. Kauai tickets are available at the Kauai Marriott Desk, Big Kmart Lihue, Larry's Music, Foodland stores or charge by phone at 526-4400. Maui tickets are at the MACC Box Office or call 242-7469.
Click for online
calendars and events.
