Mesmerizing

Liz Phair In Portland, September 27, 1998



CONCERT DETAILS
FAN PERSPECTIVE

The following description of Liz's performance in Portland is courtesy of Shawn Burke (taken from the newsgroup alt.fan.liz-phair):

Subject: Portland Liz Show
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 11:00:59 -0700

I saw the show last night at La Luna in Portland and was so very impressed. She sounded great, seemed comfortable on stage, and had put togeher a pretty solid backup band. I'll not go through the set list here (it's a little different than the other postings, I'll tell you that), but it was about 50% Exile, 40% WCSE, 10% WS. I've been looking forward to that show for a long time, and it totally exceeded my expectations. I'm from Seattle, and my friends and I road-tripped the 3 hours down to Portland and back last last night and it was totally worth it. All you out there should get those tickets because that show and the one tonight are sold out, and there was a whole lot more people outside the club looking to buy tickets than sell; I bet it'll be that way for all the shows.

The best part? I get to see her again tonight here in Seattle!

SB


The following description of Liz's performance in Portland is courtesy of Lonely Planet Boy (taken from the newsgroup alt.fan.liz-phair):

Subject: Re: Portland Liz Show
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 05:25:52 GMT

Shawn Burke wrote:

I saw the show last night at La Luna in Portland and was so very impressed. She sounded great, seemed comfortable on stage,

I also thought Liz seriously rocked La Luna. That club has been the scene of many of the greatest shows in PDX. In its earlier incantation it was known as the Pine Street Theater, and the Replacements tore the roof off the place a couple of times in the late 80's. Liz seemed to pick up on the energy of the place and genuinely appeared as if she was having a great time up there. The clubs intimate atmosphere worked well with her casual approach, and it didn't hurt that the crowd absolutely adored her every move.

I'll not go through the set list here (it's a little different than the other postings, I'll tell you that), but it was about 50% Exile, 40% WCSE, 10% WS.

The set list suprised me too. I expected her to lean much more heavily on the newer material, but she played a great mix and EIG was prominenetly featured. The silver lining for me was the spontaneous version of "Stratford On Guy" she played during the encore. Obviously the band wasn't expecting it, which was made abundantly clear by the fact that the guitarist didn't know the chords to the song. I had to laugh when Liz said, "we're going to play this song, even if I have to do it myself." She was having fun and it showed...

I've been looking forward to that show for a long time, and it totally exceeded my expectations.

Agreed 100%. After the howling of the malcontents the last couple of months I wasn't sure what to expect. That may have been an advantage in the long run. Liz was everything I expected and then some. I think the biggest suprise of the night was her live version of " What Makes You Happy", a song I could have hardly given a shit about before the show.

All you out there should get those tickets because that show and the one tonight are sold out, and there was a whole lot more people outside the club looking to buy tickets than sell

You're not kidding! I got stopped by a scalper while parking my car. He asked me if I had a ticket to sell, and I told him I did and what would he give me for it? He offered me $20 which I respectfully declined. He asked me what I wanted for it, and I told him $35, which he immediately paid, no dickering at all. Poetic Justice! That was the first time I've ever sold a ticket to a scalper for more than face value. What's more he didn't bat an eyelash. That's when I realized what a crucial show this was. Liz was playing at a club that holds around 1200, and tickets were selling for $45 - $55 bucks outside. (Original ticket price was $16.00). Believe me when I tell you that doesn't happen much in Portland...

The best part? I get to see her again tonight here in Seattle!

You are damn lucky!!!

lpb


More reviews to come...



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Last Updated: October 24, 1998