ChiLdFoOt's fiRst hANd wOndErland

Subject:	Patty Griffin in Vancouver
Time:	11:28 pm.
Music:	Patty Griffin - Burgundy Shoes -.

I promised Jeff that we'd start focusing on the things we really love about life and we've made a commitment that at least once a month (we can do more if we can!) .. we use Livejournal as an opportunity to review a work of art.. I'm going to be previewing a few albums (starting with Rasputina's brand spanking new one.. -- but I'm not ready for that yet..) .. Tonight, however, I just came from a concert of the beautiful and talented Patty Griffin and I thought I'd just share a few thoughts about this.

First of all, I thought it was General Admission because I'm dumb. It turns out that it wasn't. But they had opened up the front row just as I went to buy (because they were overselling!) .. and so I got centre front row. Holy CRAP! CENTRE FRONT ROW! okay.. :P

Twangy funny guy played for her open. Blah. He was cute. Needs help to shop for jeans tho. *offer extended*

SO PATTY GRIFFIN came on stage with her copper hair, stylish open sleeveless blouse, classy black skirt and fishnet leggings matched with open-toed glossy wedged heels (visible red painted nails). She's so pale! and her red lipstick really shines.. (okay, thats enough about appearance - - I'm just painting the picture for you here!) ..

I was impressed with the huge crowd -- considering the day Patty's c.d. came out HMV only held three copies of which one I purchased one. Even Patty said, "I didn't know if anyone would show up." The medium sized two-storeyed auditorium was full of music loving individuals who definitely showed appreciate towards Ms. Griffin and her entourage (we clapped a thousand times for the second encore -- she came out even after the houselights came on!) . The setlist consisted mostly of the new material of which Heavenly Day (about her dog - - made me cry because I kept thinking of Zoe.. and it takes a lot for me to cry cuz I'm stone cold. Tori's Merman live is the only other song I've ever cried to.), Burgundy Shoes (which is the only song she played on the piano.. and apparently her only happy song, according to Griffin, although the melody is still tinged with tragedy), Getting Ready, No Bad News and the MLK Song (which I learned was the Martin Luther King song.. she said something, "if you think all Americans are evil just remember we produced Martin Luther King.. ") .... Classic-Patty songs from all her albums were including You Never Get What You Want (it reminds me of Jeffrey! and one of two songs from Living with Ghost) was solo Patty and her guitar and rocking (after it she said, "You guys deserve a pretty song after that one.." and I think she went into Mary (only one from Flaming Red)) .. Useless Desire, Long Ride Home (oooh!!!), Be Careful..

Regrets: Too bad no Tony or Blue Skies (but I don't think the sound produced by the new band would have done them justice .. it was more of a bluesy, soulful feeling.. and those are ROCK songs) .. and Rain and Nobody's Crying were not played which sucks because theyre songs that everyone needs to hear. I didn't drag Rob there for nothing! If she had played Rain or Nobody's Crying maybe Dashboard Confessionals wouldn't be his #1. :( Marketing decisions, Patty! She should think of the best way to convert! -- heh!

One thing I learned was #1) Patty is SOOOO small, the guys in her band were towering over here.. and #2) SHE bounces.. she kept bobbing up and down like the Night Elves in World of Warcraft when they get excited. There was also head-banging Patty, dancing with the guitar, leg tapping.. (from her and me! -- i thought the girl next to me might get annoyed cuz I got quite into it.. ) ..I did like the bluesy feel to the show. Its weird without cigarette smoke in the air but quite refreshing. It wasn't what I was expecting. I walked in thinking maybe its going to be more slower, solo, 1000 Kisses-Eraish. But I saw the drumset and immediately went, "ITS A ROCK CONCERT!".. but the band blended quite smoothly and Patty was all set for blues and soul tonight. It wasn't presented in an American Idol kind of over the top way but a more subdued learning.

I took a horrible picture during the encore encore performance of Let Him Fly but someone came and got mad at me (there was no flash or anything!) .. so no more at least I have that.

I think she did a great job -- even converting me to the new album that I was a little doubtful of but now I really understand the direction she has gone. I'm glad I got a chance to see her -- I was worried I'd never see her in my life. Now the only band I have to still see before I feel complete is Faith and the Muse.

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