Concert Review/Photos: Patti Smith/Michael Stipe @ Webster Hall, NYC
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.
On the occasion of seeing Patti Smith for one of her end-of-December New York shows for the fifth time this last Tuesday at Webster Hall (and the fourth time seeing her on her birthday), an extra special gift was presented by her and one Michael Stipe — him performing an unannounced solo opening set.
On the occasion of seeing Patti Smith for one of her end-of-December New York shows for the fifth time this last Tuesday at Webster Hall (and the fourth time seeing her on her birthday), an extra special gift was presented by her and one Michael Stipe — him performing an unannounced solo opening set. It was a treat that will not be soon forgotten, seeing Stipe singing again in the lead in the flesh. Certainly the press behind this and the performance he gave the night before opening for Smith has eclipsed the headliner. This should not be the case, though, as Smith showed, as she has time and time again, that her vitality and message grows stronger with each new year. And on the precipice of the 40th anniversary of her watershed album Horses, Smith gave a brilliant performance.
With a stool, lyric sheets and the musical accompaniment of Jesse Paris Smith and Now It’s Overhead’s Andy LeMaster, Stipe presented a curated six-song set. Stipe showed his musical and vocal versatility by covering two of his favorite recent performers — the late Vic Chestnut (“Lucinda Williams”) and Perfume Genius (“Hood”) — as well as “New York, New York” (because of his great appreciation for his current home) and Patti Smith’s own “Wing.” And he also turned to R.E.M.’s catalog for the unlikely “Saturn Return,” a thought-provoking track from Reveal. Soft-spoken, Stipe did bring about interesting nuggets about his appreciation for Dolly Parton and stream-of-consciousness thoughts about Wikipedia. His grandest moment came with the concluding number of “New Test Leper.” From R.E.M.’s New Adventures in Hi-Fi, it is Stipe at his lyrical finest. And to thrown in a snippet of “O Holy Night” as a verse was a masterstroke of complementing the song’s riff on Jesus Christ.This sublime live snapshot hopefully is the beginning of Stipe’s move back into music.
Beginning with “Dancing Barefoot” and moving throughout her catalog, Smith entranced the sold out hall. Bringing rock fans young and old together in a standing venue, Smith elicits a matchless energy and passion from all. Her band, including legendary guitarist Lenny Kaye, bassist Tony Shanahan, drummer Jay Dee Daugherty and guitarist Andy York, is a tight, accomplished group of musicians. And when one sees the interplay between Smith and Kaye it is breathtaking, most especially on the scorching “Ain’t It Strange” when they are locked in a seemingly seductive dance of guitar and microphone. To follow that up with a gorgeous cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” complete with York playing banjo, shows the band’s versatility and adventurous spirit.
Smith’s birthday brought about a cover of The Beatles’ “Birthday” by her band, a traditional “Happy Birthday” rendition, a cake and the dropping of some balloons from the ceiling of Webster Hall. Stipe rejoined the fray, as did actor Michael Pitt, among others. Pitt played guitar on a handful of songs and Stipe did join in on “People Have the Power” as well.
Can't imagine a better rock 'n' roll birthday.
PATTI SMITH SETLIST
- Dancing Barefoot
- Fuji-san
- Distant Fingers
- Pumping (My Heart)
- This Is the Girl
- Because the Night
- Stable Song (Gregory Alan Isakov song)
- My Little Red Book (Burt Bacharach song)
- 7 and 7 Is (Arthur Lee song)
- Birthday (The Beatles song)
- Happy Birthday
- Ain’t it Strange
- Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana song)
- 25th Floor
- Pissing in a River
- Gandhi
ENCORE
- Mercy Is
- Banga
- People Have The Power
- Rock n Roll Nigger
MICHAEL STIPE SETLIST
- Lucinda Williams (Vic Chestnut song)
- New York, New York (Frank Sinatra song)
- Wing (Patti Smith song)
- Saturn Return
- Hood (Perfume Genius song)
- New Test Leper
