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Review Sat May 23 2009

Review: Peaches @ the Metro 5/22

By Aharona Ament

Photo by Hadley Hudson

What can be said about Peaches that has not already been said? Delightfully filthy? Cultural phenomenon? Sex goddess? A Peaches show is never to be missed and last night's sold out show at the Metro proved to be no different.

After an intense set by Evil Beaver and Drums of Death Peaches was ready to perform and the excitement was so pure, everyone present in the moment. We were was aware of what we were in for and loving the anticipation.

The set started out with the stage blacked out, only to hear a pillow soft version of Peaches singing the Divinyls classic "I Touch Myself" come over the venue. The band entered the stage to what I swear was The A Team theme in shiny spaceman meets lucha libre costumes taking their places and then the lady of the hour entered. One of the songs starting the set was "Trick or Treat" from her latest album I Feel Cream. Peaches wearing her signature hot pants somewhere under a large pink mass of fabric singing the lyrics "There's nothing wrong with a little bit of Oh Ahhhh", playing up the raw sexuality that we all knew we were there for. She disrobed while standing on the drum set, addressing the crowd, telling us that Chicago was the best and we knew she meant it. The very first time Merrill Nisker performed as Peaches was in Chicago, so we all have a special connection.

Even though a show supporting a new album requires the new songs, Peaches created a musical homeostasis playing older favorites like "Hit it Hard" and "Operate" from Impeach my Bush and Fatherf**ker. There is a need to do this to connect with fans and relate to why they are there. Peaches took this a step further by first walking along the audience and stage diving letting her body be carried (as well as caressed and fondled) by her adoring fans.

The amazing thing about being at a Peaches show is that you lose track of the atmosphere. Is this electroclash or am I at a burlesque review? The costume changes were enough to make you think the latter. There were at least four, one of them with Peaches returning to the stage in a bathrobe and her hair wrapped in a towel. Another costume was ripped from the cover of her new album with Peaches in fringed glammed out armbands.

The show was taken down a notch by another new song "Lose You". This song stood out in her repertoire of sex crazed madness with Peaches singing about fear and loss. Peaches, now wearing a baby pink leotard with white wing showing projected images of herself bare, without make-up and her hair done. It was a very honest song, making Peaches vulnerable, not an easy task.

The show ended with the classic "F**k the pain away" and encored with three more songs including "Lovertits". Just when you thought the show was ending, it was resurrected in full form. Peaches is a hard working woman who obviously lives to perform and gives it her all. I have yet to hear of a time when she disappointed and await the next time she comes to the town where she started it all.