concerts - 1998

Lilith Fair: Shawn Colvin, Sinead O'Connor, Erykah Badu, Indigo Girls, Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan
Second Stage: Lhasa, Billie Myers, K's Choice
Village Stage: Tia Tejada, Ana Gasteyer, Tara MacLean
June 27, 1998
The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
This was a great concert. Beyond the demographically intriguing combination of lesbians, straight girls, a handful of gay men, and the smattering of reluctant boyfriends of straight girls, it was a perfect sunny, Southern California summer day. I missed out on all the Village and Second Stages performers except Billie Myers, and I only caught her performing an interesting version of “Kiss the Rain” that involved her climbing the stage scaffolding. Slightly dangerous, but better than standing still. Shawn Colvin was fun and energetic and delightfully pregnant, singing originals and covers on her way to “Sunny Came Home.” Sinead O’Connor was surprisingly good with her amazing, beautiful voice. Even though the crowd didn’t really get into it until “Nothing Compares to U,” she put on a stellar set. Eryka Badu was probably the least familiar artist for me, but she was quite good and I especially enjoyed “Tyrone” (even though my brother later told me that she used the whole I’m-still-working-on-this-song-so-let’s-try-this-out thing when he saw her around the same time period). The Indigo Girls were a little disappointing, but not for lack of energy. I like them a lot more when they’re folky and deep and they came to rock. Which they did well. I’ve never been a big Natalie Merchant fan, but she puts on an amazing live show. She got hit in the face by some flowers a fan threw up to her and she kept mentioning it, probably kind of making the guy feel a little bad, but she was really cute about it. Sarah McLachlan came on like the queen of the production that she knew she was. She played all the hits well, rocking out in her own Sarah McLachlan kind of but not exactly way, and teasing the audience by not playing “Adia,” her then hit until the encore. She kind of proved that she deserved to be the last performer as she managed to sort of outdo everyone who came before. Highlights: The mass sing-a-long to “Closer to Fine” (which included Ellen DeGeneres!). Trying to decipher Natalie Merchant’s accent. Shawn Colvin’s “Hot Fun in the Summertime” cover.

Chumbawamba
Opening Act: A6
MARCH 2,1998
The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
A6 kind of blew. Not for lack of trying mind you. They were certainly full of energy and there was one really drunk guy up front and center who really made their night by being far and away the most interested guy in the room. Chumbawamba proved they were a heck of a lot more than just "Tubthumping" that night with their espousal of the virtues of anarchy. And the nun outfit, among others, really made the show. Highlights: Every act of anarchy and ounce of irreverence by Chumbawumba.