Last night's show was the 4th best of the Liz shows I've seen, just ahead of Lilith Fair. On the plus side, I talked to her during a meet-and-greet that took place outside her bus during the Mraz set.
SET:
Identical to St. Louis (same order); I didn't write it down. It felt like more than 13, but I can't recall anything that Larry didn't list. I kept shouting for "Stratford-on-Guy" to no avail.
FASHION:
Tight blue jeans & pink t-shirt with print on it that couldn't be read as it was knotted in the middle of her (very sweaty) chest. She was wearing a cap, the name of which escapes me -- like a golfer's cap (not a visor) or a conductor's cap. (Sorry, fashion ain't my forte!) Her hair is blond as hell. My girlfriend exclaimed "My god, she looks like Madonna!" but I said "No! Never! Uh... how about Sarah Jessica Parker?" Anyone else notice? It's appropriate, considering that she's becoming the modern rock equivalent of Sex & the City (and that's a good thing!). Her voice is almost as high as Parker's now, too.
PERFORMANCE:
The band submerged Liz, which she used to say was always her biggest fear. Earlier I'd told Dino he was great and that this band is much better than the last, but now I don't know. They didn't sound like anything special (I guess that's the idea), and the keyboards are a waste. Liz played guitar on everything except "Favorite", "Why Can't I", and "Rock Me". She's re-learned "Help Me Mary" and made me very proud indeed. She's using a pedal now, too. She played: white 1962 Duo-Sonic (the one with the star) and said her boyfriend actually bought it in Cleveland ("so in a way, it's home now") and that it's her favorite, and really the only guitar she writes with; red 1963 Musicmaster (which is just always naturally louder, I've noticed); and a sunburst Telecaster on "Red Light Fever". No Mustangs and no Strats, people. Liz's new "Flower" technique is cool -- solo, with this weird fingerpicking/up-stroke thing on the 5th & 6th strings, closer to Girlysound than any other rendition over the years.
CROWD:
Very cute, very blond, very pink, very made-up, and VERY young (except for the chaperoning parents!). A flock of Mraz wannabe-groupies (and I'm not making that up). Respectful and attentive during her set, and quite responsive to the slut factor in her songs (she mostly played the 'fuck' songs). There were roughly 3-4 pockets of Liz fans shouting along, fists-in-air, throughout her set. "Divorce Song" got the biggest resonse, "Flower" notwithstanding.
STAGE BANTER:
"It's *hot* in here. I kind of like it."
"I went to Oberlin, I don't know if you know what that is. We used to ride into Cleveland all the time to see shows."
on "Fuck & Run": "I remember writing this song. I was pretty angry then, but I'm not anymore."
I saw Liz on Tuesday night at St. Louis, as well as the Cleveland show. Many people have reviewed these shows already, so I'll leave out details like fashion and set lists. Both shows were great.
I was VERY surprised at how many people were there to see Mraz, and how few were there to see Liz. They didn't even know who Liz was, and one girl even said "I don't like Liz Phair... i like GOOD female musicians, like Tori Amos..." Although I also enjoy Tori, boy did they get a little music history lesson from me, lol.
She looked less frightened of the crowd, although you could still see the old shy Liz every now and then (ESPECIALLY during flower... she was so nervous she was sweating!). I loved watching people's reactions to "Flower." I'll never forget it. Some of the 13 year old Mraz girls looked disgusted, ALL the guys were amused and laughing...
Her singing and guitar playing was tighter at the Cleveland show, although overall I must say I preferred the St. Louis show. First off, the St. Louis show was my first time seeing her with a band. She rocked so much, and looked great! Second, she played the exact same songs at both shows. This was really a disappointment for me, because i drove 9 hours to see her perform the exact same show... and Third, she talked to the crowd at lot more at the St. Louis show. She explained almost every song she sang, and I must say she is hilarious. I noticed that she didn't speak very much to the Cleveland crowd. I thought this was weird, especially since the St. Louis show was all a bunch of annoying 13 year old girls there to see Jason Mraz. She actually had a few fans at the Cleveland show.
We walked out of the venue right after Liz played at both shows. I had no interest to see Mraz. My friend and I were the first ones in the back of the venue by the bus for a good 40 minutes... then other people started showing up to our dismay. When she came out, she went straight for the bus. Right when I thought she was going to be a diva and ignore us all, she turned around and walked back to talk to us. As everyone but my friend and I went in for the kill, she told them she was tired, signed two or three things, then looked at me. I didn't ask her to sign anything... I just told her we (Mike and Chrissy) would be at the Cleveland show the next day, and asked her to play "Nashville." She said she would if her guitarist learned to play it, and asked where Chrissy was (since she was too shy to say anything). She also said she would give a shot out to Mike and Chrissy at the Cleveland show. She did neither. I guess that is another reason why I was disappointed with the second show I saw, lol.
Overall, i had a good time. Hope I have better luck at the two Chicago shows I will see.