« West of the Fields | Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Dancing » |
Concert Tue May 15 2007
Respekt Is Due
There are pianists, there are vocalists, and then there is a subgenre mix of the two that is the Quirky Piano Chick (see: Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, et al).
Regina Spektor is the latest in this breed, and her May 13 concert/recital at the Riviera showcased that which is gloriously captial-Q Quirky about the Russian-born, Brooklyn-raised performer. All the necessary accoutrements were in place: female-heavy fanbase, singing along with every word? Check. Stuffed snake draped around the neck as a fashion accessory? Check and check.
Fellow New Yawker Only Son (Jack Dishel, of Stipplicon and the Moldy Peaches) opened, a lone man armed with nothing but an acoustic guitar and a dream. Unfortunately, he could've benefited from a backing band as well (which he apparently sometimes performs with). Instead, backing instrumentation was provided by pressing "Play" on a stool-bound Ipod. Whether it was due to bad soundboard mixing, or simply forgetting one's band members at home, Only Son's guitar playing was lost in the shuffle. The effect was largely that of watching someone at karaoke.
Spektor arrived shortly after, wielding her snake and plenty of charm. Equally alone onstage, Spektor took to the solitude far better, providing her own percussive elements, whether vocally or by clapping, tapping, stomping, or, as in "Poor Little Rich Boy," playing a nearby chair with a drumstick.
Her twisted vowels, vocal theatrics, and staccato punches translated as well onstage as they do on her CDs, and she played a wide range of songs from her albums, including Songs, Soviet Kitsch, and her most recent, Begin to Hope. "Flowers" was appropriately moody, launching into the Quirky, Russian folk tune-driven portion seamlessly, her gasps lending a sexuality not usually present in the recorded version. Many songs took on a childish, playground aspect, while others were laced with a jazz-influenced and even rockabilly sensibility. Unfortunately, she often sped through songs, admitting at one point she had swilled a pre-show triple latte.
The show seemed to run long, and folks started to sack out on the hallway couches, raising their arms only to applaud. She continued to hurry through her five-song encore, sapping the energy out of the joyous "Us." Still, the closing rendition of "Hotel Song," with beatbox vocals provided by Only Son, gave both audience and performers the most fun they had all evening.