Under a Darkened Sky: a Sarah McLachlan concert experience

Far beyond the glaring street lights, Sarah McLachlan was mesmerizing last night. She was gorgeous on the enchanted forest stage, an elegant beauty in a black dress and long wavy hair.

I often think of Sarah as the older sister I never had. The one who guided me through difficult teenage years. But as we've both grown older, my need for her wisdom and music has faded. I don't like Afterglow much. Except for the music in "Train Wreck" (especially the beginning) and the strings on "Stupid," I think of the album as generally...unimpressive. Not bad, just nothing really striking or edgy. And so, Sarah worried me as she started the evening with mostly new material from that album and — for the lack of a better word — bored me. But then there was a pause and she and her band, assembled themselves on what might be interpreted as the mountain part of the stage. She picked her guitar to make sure it was in tune and as soon as I heard the familiar notes, I knew everything would be OK. It was a return to the music I first fell in love with.

"Ice," I whispered excitedly. Sarah's acapella harmony introduction with her new backup singer, Kathryn Rose was exactly the turning point I was listening for. At the first "Ah" out of their mouths I slipped into a comfortable chill that only that song can give me. Then, like a dream that kept getting better, the dark opening beats of the often forgotten "Witness" filled the air followed by Sarah's impressive high vocals on "Fear" and my favourite angsty anthem, "Elsewhere."

Fireworks tried to overshadow Sarah's performance, but they were no match. She glowed and her vocals were crystal clear perfect. After two encores, she performed eight songs from Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, (what is possibly my personal favourite album of all time,) and five from Surfacing. Hearing them was like returning home to a favourite family member I lost touch with but never forgot. That trip down memory lane could not be more fulfilling.

Comments

[Brian]

sounds like she did the same setlist as night 1

not much of a fan of surfacing, though i ended up loving "witness" live.

[Trish]

aww, nice review. I know what you mean about those old school sarah songs! At her Detroit show last night, i think she only played 7 from Fumbling, 5 from surfacing, and 9 from Afterglow. She also played "I will Remember You" and and "Blackbird". And she did a cute version of "you are my sunshine" as an intro to "hold on".

I also must point out that Sarah looked so purdy too, with her long curly hair. She had a long sleeveless top, a dress-like top, and jeans, which is something only few people can pull off and still look good, but Sarah made it look great.

[Todd]

Hey Lady,
I haven't been looking at your site as much as I should. Sorry about that.
I meant to tell you it looks great.
And I love Sarah, too.
Miss you,
Todd