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From 3:30 to 5:30 pm last Friday, Civic Stadium enjoyed one of the most civil 20,000-plus crowds it's ever seen. Clean women and men in wire glasses apologized whenever they knocked into someone, sipped their first microbrews of the day and sat calmly in the sun. They were entertained by Sinéad O'Connor, casual and smiling in khakis and a white tank top, who opened on the main stage with a selection of ballads. Between songs, she congratulated people in recovery and dedicated a song to all the dead spirits enjoying the show. The crowd snapped at 7 pm, when Sarah McLachlan popped out from a trailer to harmonize with the Indigo Girls on a sweet version of "The Water Is Wide." Then peppy second-stager K's Choice joined the crew in "Closer to Fine." Breasts popped out, joints were lit, and 15-year-old girls in halters and glitter claimed the empty turf at stage right as a skipping-in-circles zone. McLachlan left to change into her evening outfit, and the Indigos knocked out a fun but embarrassing take on Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World"; it would've been more appropriate to cover Bonnie Raitt. Although this may have been the crowd's peak, the concert's true reward came next. Natalie Merchant pranced onto the main stage around dusk in a brilliant purple, orange and lime ensemble. With bare feet, the former 10,000 Maniacs frontwoman stepped up onto a little red platform, plunked the piano and danced around like a combination yogi and forest dweller. Unlike Erykah Badu, whose overzealous attempt at soul did not translate well in the stadium, Merchant found a balance between passion and restraint. Her caramel voice and dervish dancing during "Carnival" and "Kind and Generous" (from her new album, Ophelia) were the day's highlights. McLachlan's super-polished performance--if you gave her a boa she'd do just fine in Vegas--was unspectacular but thoroughly enjoyable. She played her hits, expressed her gratitude and was awarded for her performing and organizing efforts by the warm, loud crowd. And yes, there was plenty of $2.50 water. |
