Ani DiFranco:Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, Oct 27, 2000
Oct 28 '00
Note:I usually try to keep the foul language to a minimum in my reviews/opinions. However, I was so disgusted by some things last night, that I honestly felt this was the only way to sum up my feelings on certain things.
I've never been a huge fan of Ani DiFranco. In fact, I really only got into her last year, upon the constant recommendations from my friend Joe. I ended up going to see her in concert at the FleetCenter as he told me "nothing is like seeing Ani live." I found that quote interesting and intriguing, and so, I took him up. I have to say it was one of the most fun and most surprising concerts I had ever witnessed. I never realized how much Ani could light up a room with her banter, her smile, her stage presence and her way of telling a wonderful story through her songs, even though the cavernous FleetCenter was only half full for this very much cult-like performer.
So back in July, upon a heads up from Joe, I bought tickets for Ani again, but this time, she was playing the much more intimate Orpheum Theatre here in Boston. I figured this show would be even better than the Fleet show, and I couldn't wait for it to get here.
Finally, last night, the time had come, and Ani was back in town. I was going to the second of two shows, and from the reviews I read in the local papers, Ani had been absolutely wonderful the night before, and I hoped I was in for as good a performance. Unfortunately, my wish wasn't completely fulfilled, as will be explained in the following two sections:
THE PERFORMANCE:
Once again, Ani proved she could light up a room in no time, joking and telling the crowd stories as only Ani can do. She opened with The Diner, which kind of caught me off guard, as this same song closed the set I saw last year. Within the first seven songs, my favorite three songs were played, including Fuel and Providence back to back immediately following The Diner. She also intro'd Tis of Thee with a telling speech about the drug war, about how it's failing, and she then plugged Ralph Nader.
The first thing that struck me was the added mini horn section on this tour, and the somewhat different structure of certain songs. Fuel seemed especially different, it's been given a whole new groove thanks to the horn section, and this, in a way, represents DiFranco's growing interest in jazz and her slow transition into that genre.
With a new double album due out early next year, you had better believe we got a few new songs, including a mini set of three or four in a row towards the end of the regular set. All of them were slower numbers, a little less groove oriented than her material now, but definitely pointing to a growing inclination towards jazz.
She ended her regular set with 3 songs that are easily among her best work ever, Little Plastic Castle, Cradle and All, and Shameless, all of which had Ani dancing and having a grand old time onstage, despite not being in the best of moods after her mini-set of new songs. (Description below)
We got not one, but two encores, the first of which saw Ani bringing out opening act and former Ani bass player Sara Lee and her band (who were nothing great in my eyes) to jam out Rick James' Superfreak. When I heard that bassline I honestly just started laughing my a$$ off. And when she actually started singing, I laughed even harder. It's this type of complete improv that makes going to see Ani so special. The second encore consisted of another new song, Sick of Me, with Ani begging the question "sick of me yet?" Thus, that was the end of a truly great performance.
THE CROWD
I've been to loads of concerts in my relatively short life. I love concerts, and I wish I had the money to go to more than I do. I've seen great crowds, good crowds, obnoxious crowds etc. I guess you could say I've seen it all. However, I honestly don't know if I've ever been as disgusted by a crowd as much as I was last night.
First of all, I was there with my friend Mel, who like me last year, was experiencing Ani live for the first time. The two girls right next to us to our left had to have gotten up and left 5 times throughout the course of the show, seemingly totally disinterested in what was going on onstage. And then, the two girls behind us (yes, Ani attracts a much larger female audience than male audience) refused to stand up at all during the show, never mind applaud. Now, it's fine if you thought the show sucked. But after getting not one, but TWO encores, you would think they would at least clap for Ani giving it her all. Did they? No, they just sat there, and even asked me and Mel to sit down while we were dancing to the new tunes.
Speaking of sitting down, during said new tunes, 2/3 of the crowd decided this was a good time to sit down, take a nap, read a book, whatever. I've never seen so much disinterest in an artist breaking out new material in my life! Yeah, I just hate hearing new stuff. God, what I wouldn't give for Pearl Jam or the Bosstones to whip out 3 or 4 new songs in a row. But as soon as Ani went into Little Plastic Castle, you better believe the whole crowd rose up and was singing along joyously.
Now some may say I'm being too hard, but the fact that 2/3 of her audience was sitting down (including those right up front in the front section of the orchestra) was obviously affecting her mood and her performance. While she tried to be a good solider and "weather the storm" so to speak, it was obvious she wasn't pleased at this less than stellar reaction. She was less talkative and less playfull after this happened, which is a huge part of the appeal of seeing this wonderful performer live.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Despite the crowd, Ani gave a wonderful performance. She mixed old and new, and played a good variety of songs both up tempo and slower. She told her stories, danced like only Ani can dance, and generally, was in a good mood.
Now, if you are going to go to an Ani show, there are some things you should expect. First off, you should always expect to hear something new, even if it is just one or two songs. She is constantly putting out new material, be it on joint efforts or solo stuff. If you have no interest in hearing new material, fine, but do not try to ruin my good time because you are not enjoying yourself to the utmost extent. Also, if you're one of those a**holes who yell out "shut up and play some music," Ani is not for you. She will talk a lot, and she is VERY opinionated politically, and she made it no secret who she's voting for in the upcoming election, as I mentioned earlier. Part of the appeal of seeing this woman live is her stage presence and essence, her wonderful ways of telling stories etc, so if you have no interest in that, please, stay the f*ck home.
I have to say I enjoyed the FleetCenter show more than last night. The crowd helped make that a much better overall experience for me, and the opening act at that show, Maceo Parker, was brilliant!!! However, I would like to say I very much enjoyed the show last night, despite what some of you may think from this article.
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Member: Matt Aucoin
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