Pittsburgh,PA show 7/21/07

Wow, sorry to read this…this is the complete opposite of my experience! Years ago, I remember hearing that her shows are somewhat hit or miss, so I was pleasantly surprised at what a great performance she put on here in STL. As for social skills…I remember seeing the CMT video of her singing with Elvis Costello and how she barely made eye contact with the audience and kind of let Costello do all the talking. At the show here, she was totally engaged with the audience and told us from the beginning what a great audience is was and how good everything sounded, etc. She acknowledged a few people too, either signaling them out visually or answering back to people yelling things (in a nice way). I also think at least part of her excitement and endurance (not just coming out for another set but before the show even ended, telling us she was planning on it, as long as they could beat curfew) had to do with the way the crowd reacted to Charlie Louvin’s opening act. People were just really respectful of the band and patient waiting for Lu to come on. Was it like that last night?
Anyhow, sorry you had a bad experience. I hope it won’t ruin listening to her music elsewhere. 🙁

I’m sorry to hear that! I know that sort of thing can really sour you on an artist. I went to see Bonnie Raitt and afterward by the bus her crew said “She wants us to get rid of the fans, she’s not meeting anybody tonight” and I thought ‘Well I’m so glad I drove all the way out here for this’. The concert was still great but music is only part of the package. I hope you will give Lucinda another chance. Last Sunday she was really outgoing and chatted a lot with the audience. She seemed to be getting along really well with the band. She came out and sang several songs for the encore. It was by far the best concert I have ever seen, my dad even commented her live music is just as good if not better than the records. Even in person, it was 12:09 a.m. and she came out to greet the fans. Give her another shot, you never know why she could’ve been off the other night. She’s worth it!

Thanks, Paul, for your lucid account of a great evening, and thanks Rhon for pointing out something apparently inscrutable to the first poster. What’s this mania for expecting an “encore” at every show one attends, this expectation for the artist to follow the arena format to the letter? You got 18 songs, you got a straight-through 90-minute-plus set of diverse songs. Paul is right that eschewing the “normal break” shouldn’t be an affront to any audience member; “virtual encore” is a good way to put it. I must have missed the “diva moment” and the on-stage “tirade.” If Lucinda chooses to do “Side of the Road” solo and “Minneapolis” with Doug only on stage, shouldn’t we be grateful for these setlist departures, these beautiful introspective songs? So what that she didn’t walk off and then back on; yes, she usually does this, but often reemerges solo for “Passionate Kisses” or a similar tune. There was no band dissension, just a reconfiguration after song #13, another one before #15. The Thievery Corporation cover and the song (“Little Rock Star”) written only that week were worth any number of “thank you so much”-es or rote responses to uplifted cigarette lighters or whatever the hell the first poster was expecting from a concert format. Since when are “social skills” the disposative element in judging a performance’s worth? Lucinda interacted with the crowd quite a bit actually, her calling us “intelligent” being only one example–none of this contradicted the way the evening actually ended. Yes, the end seemed a bit abrupt after the Louvin duet, but the house lights coming on immediately afterwards cannot be laid at the door of Lucinda or any of the touring crew, should not be judged as indicative of her attitude. It’s a union town, blah blah blah. Again, if 18 songs from various periods of this great artist’s career didn’t suffice, then stay “stiffed” and revisit some of your top 50 supersociable live performing artists. I’ll shoot for 50 (+) more Lu’s.

Wow all that because he didn’t get an encore. I attended the Wolf Trap Show. She was amazing. She spoke to the crowd often. I was just happy to be there to witness four amazing performers. Do not let this show pass you by if she comes around your way.

Thanks, Paul, for the setlist!! I had forgotten Lonely Girls, which was a great surprise for me. AND…thanks to you too for shouting the request for for Side of the Road, a big highlight of the night, as well. Man, that show was wonderful, although the ending was abrupt. Lu is becoming one of those artists with such a rich catalog, no show will be long enough. But the setlist was diverse enough that you had no time to think of what you wished to hear, I just kind of went along with her for the ride. She DID talk to the audience, even when you didn’t think she would (the “Where’s Jim Lauderdale” question after Joy – – She was pow-wowing with the band and returned to mic to wonder “Don’t know where Jim L is, Dougie, do you know where Jimmy L is?”) Funny, the woman has good ears. Going to Rams Head Sunday night. Last time I saw her there she played 4 hours and did Ode to Billy Joe…….