Concert Review/Photos: Natalie Merchant @ the Keswick
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
"But you don't know me. ... I would drive you nuts ... with my rules."
[ 7/11 ] It became apparent nearly halfway through the two-hour-plus Natalie Merchant concert on Friday that her audience was as enthusiastic about her music as ever. With the first few chords and the heartbeat-like percussion from “Giving Up Everything,” one of the best tracks off her new and exceptional self-titled record, applause erupted from the sold-out Keswick Theater. That much of the audience was familiar with and happy to hear her newest work (as was apparent on other songs as well) must be a blessing for an artist touring behind her first wholly original collection of songs in 13 years. Merchant repaid the appreciation with a career-spanning set backed by an eight-piece band that included a dedicated string section.
The set also concentrated on Merchant’s first solo work, 1995’s Tigerlily. A documentary crew was there to film people’s memories and connections to the album, and Merchant is reworking some of its songs for a future release with orchestral arrangements. My favorite from that album — “Beloved Wife” — sounded as emotionally powerful as ever. “Seven Years” was given more depth and breadth with the gorgeous string arrangements. Often conducting as well as dancing, Merchant was having a blast. And her band played brilliantly throughout. The players included frequent Merchant guitarist Gabriel Gordon (and confidant for Merchant throughout the night), the phenomenal drumming of Allison Miller, piano and sometimes accordion player Uri Sharlin, Jesse Murphy on bass and the string section of viola player Marandia Hostetter and brothers Scot, Stanley and Shawn Moore.
Merchant was quite engaging. Noticing people standing on the sides of the venue, she encouraged them to take a few open seats up front. Her new CD was on her water table and she gave it to a fan late in the show. And when she needed to put her hair back, a male audience member was ready with a ponytail holder. But Merchant knows how to separate herself from her crowd and when one audience member shouted “I love you,” she retorted with: “But you don’t know me. … I would drive you nuts … with my rules.” She further clarified by stating that it’s “nice to be loved from a distance.”
This love was permeating throughout and hit critical mass during the encore trio of some of her best known works — “Wonder,” “Carnival” and 10,000 Maniacs’ “These Are Days.” The Keswick’s aisles swelled with dancing crowd members singing along with unfettered joy. An impromptu rendition of the country music standard “Always on My Mind” was a treat, while the inevitable conclusion with Merchant’s own “Kind & Generous” was a welcome end to the evening — as she handed out treats to those in the first few rows while the song had everyone clapping and harmonizing.
More concert reviews and photos by Chris Sikich:
- Athfest 2014
- Sharon Van Etten @ Union Transfer
- tUnE-yArDs @ Union Transfer
- Meshell Ndegecello @ World Cafe Live
- Mirah @ Johnny Brenda's
- NonCOMM 2014
- Drivin’ ’N’ Cryin @ World Cafe Live at The Queen
- Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Johnny Brenda's
- Ani DiFranco @ World Cafe Live
- Escovedo @ World Cafe Live
- The Sounds @ Union Transfer
- The Stray Birds @ World Cafe Live
- Okkervil River/Typhoon @ Union Transfer
- Tinariwen @ Prince Music Theater
- Suzanne Vega @ Two Rivers Theater
- Drive-By Truckers @ World Cafe Live at The Queen
- Arcade Fire @ Wells Fargo Center
- Throwing Muses @ Bowery Ballroom (NYC)
- Paul Simon and Sting @ Wells Fargo Center
- Ex Hex @ the Ottobar (Baltimore)
