[dar-list] New song; favorite-artist poll

[Luca, Joseph (EHS)]

Howdy---

On Saturday night in Newburyport (MA), Dar graced a very enthusiastic
audience with a stellar performance. It was a near-sellout of the City
Hall auditorium, rather remarkable given the hurricane-like conditions
outside. As a style-oblivious, partially color-blind, straight male
(please pardon all redundancies), I can't comment too expertly on her
sartorial statement. I can tell you that she was wearing her hair long
and wavy; she was in a snow-leopardy print dress; and she was sporting
pretty cool boots. Sorry that I can't elaborate more than that.

Dar was in excellent voice, save for one coughing fit mid-"Ocean"
(attributed to the drama of the song). The repertoire spanned her entire
catalog (although she did decline a suggestion to play "Terrarium"). She
was, of course, whip-smart and funny, parrying a request for "You're
Aging Well" by likening us to a hive of smoked bees; she wanted instead
to shake the hive rather than exacerbate our cozy snugness. She said
that she'd spent the day in and around Salem, and was inspired by the
history...she thought it was impressive that we as a people felt so
bad---"excoriating ourselves"---for the witch trials. At any rate, with
an intro mentioning the aforementioned trials and the unfortunate nexus
of politics and religion, Dar unveiled a "world premiere"---"Holly
Tree."  My rather weak excuse follows: The mix all night was kind of
funny---guitar was out front, vocals kind of muted. So I was really
trying hard to discern the lyrics. The song was, as the subject
matter---the trials---would require, haunting, yet quite beautiful. In
keeping with Dar's approach, it was both stirring and somewhat oblique,
and it had a bit of a sudden ending. I actually think it's a bit of a
departure, but a moving one at that. I eagerly anticipate hearing it
again.

Opener Lucy Wainwright Roche was, as described by Sharon a while ago,
delightful. Very funny and humble, with a high, clear voice and strong
affection for and from Dar (she was Stephen's babysitter for a while),
she was a big hit; she seems sure to realize the potential implicit in
the three musical families that surround her.  Overall, it was a
terrific night of music, well worth the weather's ick factor.

On another note, WUMB is holding its annual favorite-performer poll.
Today is the last day on which you can cast your vote.  Dar has
traditionally done very well in these polls; consider going to
www.wumb.org to chime in with your opinions.

That's it; yea, Sox; go, Pats!

Ciao,

Joe

President Bush's followers describe him as a "man of God." I don't know
about that, but I do know that he's a miracle worker. And what makes
George W. Bush truly miraculous is that he has made me pine for the
integrity of Nixon, the compassion of Reagan, and the intelligence of
Quayle.