CONCERT REVIEW: Lisa Loeb, Tramps, February 27, 1998
- Jason Cahill
Well before the release of Lisa Loeb's two albums, people were talking about her live performances. In Manhattan, she frequently played at CBGB's Gallery, a small, intimate club known for its great acoustics. There, audiences would find themselves completely transfixed by her smooth, flowing vocals and smart, girl-next-door looks. Those in attendance recognized her as something special each time she took to the small stage, sometimes with her band, sometimes with just her guitar. Since then, her music has matured and developed a rich texture. Her recent show at Tramps on the lower west side of New York City was evidence of just that.
Her set consisted mostly of selections from her two studio albums, as well as songs from a never released tape she used to sell for the bargain price of $10 after her shows. Supported by her ever-changing band Nine Stories and a three piece string section, she solidified her status as one of music's finest pop stylists, mixing together smooth, wistful ballads with infectious pop songs, both ripe with her trademark melodies and pitch perfect vocals.
"Truthfully" and "Let's Forget About It", both selections from her latest album Firecracker, are both proof positive that Loeb deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as artists like Shawn Colvin and Aimee Mann, female vocalists with a great ability to craft songs which are rich in vocal quality and illustrative lyrics. "Waiting For Wednesday", "I Do" and "Taffy" were also standouts, each as catchy and fun as the other. The addition of the string section added new dimension and life to a familiar favorite like "Hurricane", giving the song a maturity and brooding texture otherwise lacking.
Disappointments? Not many, but a few. One in particular was Loeb's scaled down version of "This", a slow, meandering ballad off Firecracker. In numerous past shows, Loeb has performed this song as an energetic, up-tempo pop song. In fact, it appeared as such on her early demo recordings. But in keeping with the version of "This" which appears on Firecracker, Loeb performed it without any of the intensity the song originally contained.
That aside, Loeb's performance was as solid as any of her early shows in the small clubs of New York City. The venues might be larger, but she still manages to hold an audience with just her voice and her guitar.
