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After consulting my magic purple drawer of ticket stubs, I have the following to report.
Who is worth your time (in no particular order):
Tori Amos. She is one of my repeater artists, e.g. I never miss her when she plays within a 300 mile radius. What makes Tori compelling, beyond her music, is that she is a virtuoso. This woman was a child prodigy and could play the piano before she could read; she weaves magic with those hands. Sometimes I just sit and watch her hands fly over the keys. Amazing.
Joan Baez. I have only seen her once, but she was magic. Her golden pipes have bronzed through the years but not rusted. She has a spontaneous energy about her and the rapport with her liberal audience that cannot be matched.
Ben Folds. Complimenting his vintage rock 'n' roll playing style that emits visions of Jerry Lee Lewis, is his wry sense of humor and keen sense of observation. This can be found not only in his songs but in his banter with the audience. I have only seen him as an opening act but I was sold. When are you coming back to San Diego solo, Ben?
Who Sucked:
Tom Petty. I adore him but his passion for music is obviously waning. I had seen him three prior times to the performance that I saw last fall and the difference was startling. He was boring and uninspired. I was also next to a bunch of obnoxious, drunk, smoking seat squators that were shoved up against me.
I may get crucified for saying this but Radiohead is a bore live. Maybe you need to be drunk, I don't know, but I was bored. I am guessing that the point of it is that the music, not the musicians, are supposed to entertain you. Call me old school (at 27!) but I come from an era where there were "rock stars" and they were as much of the show as the music (seeing Guns N' Roses in 1993 on the Metallica stadium tour pops into mind as an example). Thankfully a rocket was launched from Vandenberg Airforce Base during the show and the light show from that sparked the night up a little.
