A Couple of Great Concerts

This week I saw a couple of shows. Kind of incredible that a year has gone by and winter was a slow concert season, although, I of course was able to find bands I enjoy and see them live. 

Tuesday night, I saw Sri-Lankan/British rapper, M.I.A. at the State Theatre here in Portland. She is definitely an incredible performer, but I couldn't help feeling like I was in the midst of a seedy club, with the rap and beats and the energy put forth from the opening act, A$AP Ferg and also M.I.A. There was a mass of douchebag/jock/fraternity guys bumping and grinding on girls scantily clad who may or may not have been there girlfriends, at the very least they were looking for a good time, out with their girlfriends, getting drunk and/or high on a variety of drugs, no doubt. Regardless, I enjoyed M.I.A.'s performance and I'm actually quite amazed that Portland, ME found its place on her tour dates. 

I discovered her back in 2005 when her first album, Arular came out and thought her story and beliefs were incredible and daring, thought-provoking, respectively. She captured my attention immediately and I saw her perform on television with Madonna at the Super Bowl back in 2010, and again was enthralled by her no-holds-bar approach to being somewhat polarizing as a media figure. 

 

  1. Helicopters into Edward Snowden Link 
  2. The Message 
  3. The World 
  4. XR2 
  5. Bucky Done Gun 
  6. Bird Flu 
  7. Sunshowers 
  8. World Town 
  9. Bring the Noize 
  10. Bamboo Banga 
  11. URAQT 
  12. Yala 
  13. Hussel 
  14. Boyz 
  15. Double Bubble Trouble 
  16. Galang 
  17. Paper Planes 
  18. Bad Girls 
Friday night, I got to see two incredible female artists/singers/songwriters who should have way more accolades but are flying under the radar. I'm torn between wanting them to have their day in the sun and public's eyes/ears, but at the same time I enjoy the fact that they are independent artists getting just a little bit of attention. 

The opening act goes by the stage name, Elizabeth and the Catapult. Unfortunately, on this night, she admitted that her entire band had fallen ill, so it was just her and a drummer. Both of them together put on an incredible set and her voice is absolutely amazing, not to mention, the fact that she seemed quite adorable. She also didn't seem to be afraid to perform so rawly, without a band to back her up. 

 

And then, Katie Herzig took the stage and blew me away. I've only heard a couple of her songs and to be quite honest, I wanted to go because she's been to Portland several times over the past few years and I haven't been able to check her out. This show was only $14 and I'm just a concert-goer anyway, but this entire show's bill seemed well worth more than $14. Katie Herzig is an incredible songwriter and an amazing performer. Her voice carried beautifully in the larger setting than she'd played perviously in Portland. She actually reminds me of another great artist, Brandi Carlile. 



This is one of her setlists from another stop along her tour, as I've been unable to find a posting so recently after the show. But, the songs look rather similar here, aside from the addition of one of her best songs, "Human Too"



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