MixedContent

Madeleine Peyroux with Ron Sexsmith @ the Orpheum Theatre, Tuesday June 28, 2005

I was really looking forward to this show. I have been listening to Peyroux’s 2004 release “Careless Love” for the last little while, and I enjoy its relaxed chilled vibe. I was a bit apprehensive about just how mellow the show was going to be, and my worst fears were realized. I’m not sure if it was just because I was tired, but during her entire show I had the distinct feeling of falling asleep in a Starbucks. I was not alone. There was a large gentleman directly behind me who loudly sawed logs through out the show. Which is a shame, since I really enjoy her voice, song arrangements, and guitar playing. I think most of the problems stem from the fact that Peyroux seemed nervous and uncomfortable on the stage. Her voice had difficulty hitting certain pitches and can only be described as erratic. Her guitar playing seemed hesitant. Maybe she felt overwhelmed by the size of the venue, or maybe it was an off night, but this performance did not live up to my expectations. I still like the CD though.

Ron Sexsmith was a very different story! He is a comfortable, seasoned performer who engaged effortlessly with the audience. His performance was flawless. Almost too flawless! A good friend of mine likened this seeming paradox to the time he went and watched a gyspy circus perform. The circus performers were so bad, that when the time came for the tight rope walking, my friend was literally on the edge of his seat. At any moment, these rusty amateurs could plummet to their death! The Ron Sexsmith show was the exact opposite scenario; they made it look too easy! I can hardly fault someone for a perfect performance, but maybe they could have taken a few more musical chances. This aside, the Ron Sexsmith show was quite enjoyable.