Mar 3, 2007 - Atlanta Playlist & Notes

Just came from the show....more details Monday!!

All right, it is Monday mid-morning and I am ready to give the big analysis of her show here in Atlanta this past Saturday...keeping the immortal words of Bob Dylan in my mind ("Just because you like my stuff doesn't mean I owe you anything") I offer you this:

First off, the show had an opening act that played for a half hour.  His name was Ron Sexsmith and he played solo guitar.  He was ok.

Madeleine came out around 9:10 and started out "with a dirty old man song by Leonard Cohen".  This was Blue Alert.

1.  Blue Alert

I made notes during the concert to point out to myself the songs she and the band really rocked on, and "Don't Cry Baby" was the first one.

2.  Don't Cry Baby

Between most of the songs, Madeleine provided a small commentary about songs and whatnot, for the next song she mentioned that this one was sung for the Democratic party in '04.

3.  Don't Wait Too Long

4.  Everybody's Talking

This next song rocked very well...

5.  A Little Bit

The next song had a bit of a country & western vibe to it, I don't know if Madeleine & Co. did this deliberately since they were in the South, but it certainly had a C&W vibe to it.

6.  Lookin' For The Heart Of Saturday Night

This next song was played in a nice bossa-nova style...

7.  Half The Perfect World

Even though it was sung in French, this next song rocked.

8.  La Javanaise

So did this one....

9.  I'm Alright

This next song rocked too, with three lovely solos from the band.

10.  Weary Blues

I didn't recognize this song, but it rocked, with the drummer (Darren Beckett) playing a nice solo.

11.  "I Hear Music" - (Didn't Recognize This One)

These next three songs were mellow, not rocking...

12.  "I Think It's Going To Rain" (See Above)

13.  Dance Me To The End Of Love

14.  Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go

This song rocked...

15.  Careless Love

I've always liked "Smile".  I think it's a nice song.

16.  Smile

For the encore, just one song.

Encore:  Walking After Midnight.

I know I may ruffle some feathers in this forum, but here's my take on Madeleine and her show...

I was extremely excited to see the show.  When she and the band came out, they played very well together.  The drummer, keyboard player (James Beard), and guitar player (John Harrington) really played great solos, sounding excellent.  The guitar and piano were given the most solos, with the drummer playing with brushes most of the time.  I enjoyed his technique - he was great!  The bass player (Johnannes Veitemuller (check my spelling)) was fine.  He only got one solo in the show and was otherwise steady in holding down the beat.

Madeleine looked good and appeared to be in good spirits.  There was nothing timid about her demeanor or voice.  She sounded strong and confident.  She played for an hour and a half.

A couple of things bothered me a little bit about this show, and here they are...

1.  During the introduction of the band, she said "we're all from New York".  I thought she was from Athens, Georgia.  I thought she'd throw a little bone out there for the audience, but did not.

2.  She only played one song from "Dreamland", and that was the encore.  My girlfriend and I were eager to hear "Was I" and "Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter", not to mention a few others.  It seems as if she is distancing herself from "Dreamland".  Maybe she is burnt out from it?  At any rate, see my Bob Dylan quote above...

Hi Pete -

I hear you re: fitting all the music into one show; it certainly can be difficult given only an hour and a half.  Still, it would have been nice...

Regarding my observation about her not acknowledging being "from Georgia", you certainly make a point, especially when it comes to a family that has moved around as much as hers has.  Nonetheless, it is always one's birthplace that will never change.  I'm sure if you were to move to Chicago, you'd most certainly identify yourself as "living in Chicago" and "being from England" (unless you got tired of everyone always guessing by your accent that you were from Austrailia, Scotland, or Ireland and just chose one at random to mess with people).

I myself was born in Indiana, but have been here in Georgia for the past 21 years.  Still, I take pride in being from Indiana and am always eager to meet someone else from "back home".  To each his own though, right?

Enjoy the show when she comes to England, Pete.  I managed to get autographs from the piano player, guitar player, and drummer.  Hopefully you will do me one better and get the elusive MP !!

D.