Tift Merritt at la Java, Paris, France, May 21st, 2008
hi everyone !
It was really for me an exciting day to see Tift Merritt in France in hometown Paris. After my first taste of Tift's music in London, I was really looking to see her again play her mesmerizing songs and she of course gave us a full-heart performance, despite some technical issues with the piano most notably. It was a special event for us French people as we all knew how much Tift loves France. At the end, me and my friends met up with Tift and everything went ballistic from there, more details later in the review....
the setlist :
Something to me (guitar)
Broken (guitar)
I know what I'm looking for now (electric piano)
Stray paper (guitar, offmic)
Another country (piano)
my heart is free (guitar)
keep you happy (guitar, offmic)
hopes too high (guitar & harmonica)
good-hearted man (piano)
tender branch (piano)
Supposed to make you happy (guitar & harmonica)
morning is my destination (piano & harmonica & foot-stomping)
mille tendresses (piano)
*********
encore
Virginia, no one can warn you (guitar, offmic)
Ain't looking closely today (piano & foot-stomping)
First of all, a US singer from Nashville, Tn called Will Roge opened for Tift with a nice set of bluesy-folk songs inlcuding one mocking the president of the USA with a way of singing that reminded me of the Bob dylan of 1964, who actually sometimes spoke while playing the song. It was really nice for me to hear some blues songs live as I don't have many occasions to do so.
Then on came the beautiful Tift with what was about to be a dreamy setlist of songs. She was obviously happy to be in Paris again. She told us it was a bit rough in Berlin as she didn't know the language. But now that she is back in Paris after writing the album here 2 years ago, she said she would feel a bit homesick (which she usually never does) and she would like to stay a bit more in Paris. I positioned myself on the left sidewalk so as to have a better angle for photos. I felt for Tift because there were so many flashes popping out during the show but it didn't seem to bother her too much. What bothered her more is the weird sound coming from the keyboard and echo issues so I guess she didn't feel comfortable during the whole show but yet again she's so talented that she could easily overcome these difficulties and also it prompted her to stay off the mic even more... The audience was very very quiet, much like in London but to a greater degree. I wish i had made my song request for "laid a highway" but I know from the beginning that i'm way too shy to do that, especially if everyone in the audience keeps real quiet. After attending the London show and now the Paris show, I have to say that sometimes you take things for granted and can expect a flawless performance every night but the thing is, Tift is the real deal, she's one of the most talented singers and she makes things look so easy. I feel just lucky to see Tift in her prime and no doubt that the sky's the limit for her.
I have to mention that she obviously committed herself to speak a lot of French tonight and I really appreciate the effort even though it may have taken us away from getting some jokes if it was in front of an English-speaking audience, oh well, whatever...
I'm just in awe just witnessing so much heart, so much passion and humility. She just has a nice way to conduct her shows and she has that kind of personality where you can discern the sweetest voice ever and pure gentleness combined with rare will and talent. I think this is what makes her so special to me.
So she finished the show on the unexpected "ain't looking closely today" with some foot-stomping beat. I took a lot of photographs during the show and I'm pretty happy with the results considering that i don't use the flash anymore to not bother the artists. I dragged 3 friends fo mine for the occasion, they almost didn't know anything about her before but they were really happy to be at the Java and enjoyed a great great show. So, as you may know now, I like to get things interesting at the meet and greet and this night would be no different after my Camden introduction last week.
Tift quickly came out to meet the fans and invitees. I prepared all my stuff at our table, Cds, 21x29 pictures, boxes of chocolate, sharpies...I told my friends to stay at the table. I went over to meet Tift and when it was finally my turn, she recognized me immediately and pronounced my name perfectly, which kind of left me totally stunned. I mean, we only met one time and she could remember my name, who can do that ?? so I was a bit at loss of words. i got another hug by the way hehe and she asked me how i was doing, i was doing very well obviously... So then i dragged her at our table to introduce Tift to my friends. Usually you can see a merchandise table at a show, well, I have to say that we made our table look like the merch table, Cds and pictures everywhere and of course, Tift kindly took the time to sign everything for us. To thank her for the show and everything, we offered her not one, but TWO boxes of chocolate. She guesses right that I was the one who bought the chocolate and she said "you're trying to make me fat", everyone laughed very very hard and I joked saying "I don't know what you're talking about...."
For a few seconds, we were the center of attention and Tift kept thanking us for the support, she was obviously moved by so much attention and gifts (i also gave her some pics form the London show). So I got a lot of pats on the shoulders and some long hugs by Tift along the way. I feel really fortunate that she cares so much for her fans and I just try to show as much support as we can. I could match Tift's intensity this time as i was better prepared and also my friends really helped me a lot by sharing duties cos' they knew what they had to do so it took up some pressure off of myself as I usually always managed to mess up at the worst time.
So, well, it was a extraordinary moment of joy for me and my friends and definately for Tift (she kept telling "you're the best fans ever !!  ). We all really stormed the place tonight !! Besides that, I am so happy that i could share my passion for Tift's msic with my friends too and they thanked me a lot for organizing this rocking meet and greet...
This was part two of my Tift Merritt trilogy and it could have never turned out any better than that. All eyes are on the final showdown on July 1st in London for my first full-band show.
Pics and a couple of videos to be posted later.... |