Very belatedly, here is a set list and a review for Liz's gig at the ICA in London on October 7th 2003. This was one of 4 gigs in which Liz played Europe - population 400,000,000+ - this year.
01 - Stratford-on-Guy (solo)
02 - Hurricane Cindy (solo)
03 - Polyester Bride
04 - Johnny Feelgood
05 - Extraordinary
06 - 6' 1"
07 - Rock Me
08 - Glory
09 - Favorite
10 - Red Light Fever
11 - Help Me Mary
12 - Divorce Song
13 - Uncle Alvarez
14 - Perfect World
15 - Never Said
16 - Fuck and Run
17 - Why Can't I?
18 - Supernova
Encore
19 - Mesmerizing
20 - Flower (with an extra verse)
21 - HWC
Early on, she told us that her whole life story was in the set list. This lead me to expect "Little Digger" (how that song has grown on me) at some point, but so such luck. Overall, she gave us 21 songs over one and a half hours, including three songs for the encore. That's more - I think - than most recent gigs.
Overall impression? She rocked, she really did.
She started off quietly, though, with a couple of solos - Stratford and Hurricane Cindy - before the 3 band members joined her on stage and the rocking started.
I was very pleasantly surprised how well many of her oldies adapted to the full-on rock band treatment. Plus, the Matrix songs really rock when she plays them live, and I even caught myself clapping Uncle Alvarez, which is something I thought would never, ever happen. Stratford, Johnny Feelgood, F&R and Red Light Fever (my favourite from "Liz Phair") stand out as the highlights for me.
I called out for "Explain it to me" and someone else wanted "Can't Get Out Of What I'm Into", but Liz's response was "so many songs, so little time".
"Flower" had an extra verse that I hadn't heard before - the first line of the last verse ended with the words "English Rose", so maybe it was added in our honour? Other add-on Flower lyrics include a line like "some things I do and some things I don't", but I'm afraid I didn't catch it exactly. Does anyone recognise this?
She also sang a few verses as impromptu filler in the main set - again, not lyrics that I recognised - they may have been from Comeandgetit, which I hadn't downloaded at that point.
Liz was confident, talkative and totally at ease throughout, with lots of lingering eye contact with the fans up front, including me :-). She was wearing a white top, jeans and brown stiletto boots - maybe a vaguely cowgirl look for us poor Europeans who have never seen a real one before.
One funny story from the show, triggered by something the lead guitarist did. The week before, she played in Amsterdam (Club Paradiso) and was hanging out with Dave Navarro who was also playing locally. At some point Dave suffered a broken string, so put his foot on a pedal and held the note while the guitar tech rushed on and helped him change instrument. According to Liz, her lead guitarist remarked "Hey, I could do that. Hey, I'll do it at the next concert. Hey, I'll do it twice". Lots of laughter from audience (it's the way she told it).
Compared to recent gigs that I've seen reviewed, she played more or less the same songs but adjusted the order - perhaps she was experimenting or adapting for a UK audience? Whatever the reason, the ergonomics were not optimal - she changed guitar after many songs, as did her lead guitarist, but it was all done smoothly.
The hall was full but not packed tight (tickets having sold out well in advance). Mix of fans though - some (like me) who have known her music for years, some who had never heard of her. I was standing next to people who were unaware that some critics credit her with having made one of the 100 Best Albums of All Time. It still amazes me how many people in the UK "don't know who Liz Phair is".
Liz told me afterwards that she'll be back in Europe in two years' time. I'm hoping that was career planning from a forward-thinking lady and not just a diplomatic answer. Being an optimist, I have started a queue.
Paul