Miswanderlust
Ann 1Adele
July 9th 2009 03:10
Recently my girlfriends and I went to see Adele (Adele Laurie Blue Adkins) in concert on a whim during a “girl’s night out.” I have to admit that I was a doubter. My snobbish self had not deigned to lower myself to actually listen to this artist on “principle” I honestly believed that her work was relegated to the sea of tweens hankering for soft serve musical fare. I was convinced that next year, her hits would end up as ambient music in Starbucks.
My arrogant self was pleasantly surprised. Her band took the stage first, and then she magically appeared without fanfare holding a cup of Earl Grey tea after informing the audience that she had been fighting a cold. Adele, a former BRIT school student, giddy with excitement expressed comments of embarrassment at the sold out show at Dallas’ Granada Theater while waving at the adoring crowds as if she were spotting old friends at the pub.
The twentysomething British singer-songwriter-guitarist was an old soul filled with an overarching sweetness that permeated her entire show. Her big voice was coy and playful and clear as a bell and the real star of the show. She exhibited a range and depth well past her age as she sang tunes that were sophisticated, soulful. poppy, jazz filled and bluesy.
Her intimate performance made the whole venue an up close and personal experience, rendering the audience members best friends for life! She shared tales both personal and passionate through an array thoughtful songs and led the audience through a well crafted evening of music. She told humorous stories and explained the backdrop of her well written and intelligent songs. She even persuaded fans to raise their arms in the air so she could take pictures for her MySpace page. It was as if your little sister was singing for her entire family at the annual reunion.
Adele hypnotized us with a languid, daydreamy, luxurious soul vibe. Her music was soothing…a veritable a cocktail hour martini. She sprinkled the set with covers of her idol Etta James “Melt My Heart to Stone” and “Fool that I am” and Ranconteurs “Many Shades of Black.” Like other performers her age, she didn’t need to dilute her voice with choreography. Adele performed with sincerity and assurance and at the end of her performance she thanked the attentive, cheering enthusiastic audience of 500 for grooving to her music as well as buying tickets and CD. She said that she was “living the dream” and that she literally played to “2 people in a pub’.
At the concert’s end she told everyone to come by her tour bus “for cake.” I noticed there were throngs of adoring fans sticking around the stage hoping some techie would have pity on them and turn over a pick or the ever coveted set list. As I exited the venue, I longingly looked at the merch table but noticed it was picked clean, so I was left to return home and bask in the glory of the night.
image: Guardian UK
| 58 |
| Vote |
Comments (2)
Add Comments
