rhillcfi

I attended yesterday’s show at the Greek. It was unfathomable to me that the theater was about 75% empty while Lucinda performed, and that many who had made it their seats were milling about, chatting, and generally indifferent to Lucinda.

Lucinda told the audience that she had much the same base of fans as Mellencamp, but I don’t think so. Honey Bee was torrid – tight, intense, and mesmorizing. It made me sweat. Yet half way through, the couple seated next to me went for beer. Real Live Bleeding Fingers versus R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. Most in attendance missed or ignored the first, and swooned at the second. I went for beer half-way through R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., an above average, nostalgic, pop song, for sure, but I needed a couple of beers to recover from Lucinda’s blistering set.

Lucinda should open for Springsteen. She’s one of the few artists who could complement his concerts. Bruce fans would adore her on first note. They are used to literate lyrics, appreciate blues and rockabilly and country-western; and are comfortable sweating at a concert. (Lucinda made me sweat yesterday.) Neil Young also would work for a dual-bill.

Mellencamp was a bad match. He has too many pop rock fans who come to see John Cougar. Lucinda is too raw, too powerful, and too unfiltered for them.