The second show in the series features Sheryl Crow, Hard-Fi and Diana Krall. Again not an inspiring line-up but I watched with an open objective mind. But ultimately I was disappointed simply because most of the music was just so dull.The set:
Sheryl Crow
- Shine Over Babylon
- Love Is Free
- Now That You're Gone
- Tied Up Too Tight
- We Need Love
- Exactly Like You
- I'll String Along With You
- Let's Face The Music And Dance
Sheryl Crow was blatantly plugging her new album. All three of her songs were from 'Detours' and nowhere near the best thing she has done. Her heart might now be in the right place but the music is empty and predictable. She talked before about her initial stardom and how it was a dismal time for music (she quotes Madonna and Paula Abdul in this claim). How ironic. The only song that impressed was the upbeat Love Is Free - the first song to really feel live despite high vocal production. The big boring chorus and meaningful, yet predictable, lyrics of Shine Over Babylon and the wobbly Now That You're Gone were uninspired.
The big let down was Hard-Fi. Like Dashboard Confessional they were relegated to the middle slot who only get two songs. Tied Up Too Tight was ok but We Need Love reminds us what a promising band they were and how their sound has changed for the worse. You got the impression that they swaggered in trying to act cool, swearing for attention and dismissing The Beatles in favour of The Rolling Stones. They did concede that Abbey Road has a 'vibe' but the damage was already done.
Diana Krall was very good. She is an amazing pianist and singer even if she does sing other people's songs. Her philosophy of 'try first, then listen back' may seem basic but is great advice. Her clean music works much better in the clean studio format and remains 'live' through the production. The rework of 'Let's Face The Music And Dance' was expected but also brilliant. She is not entirely my cup of tea but a nice surprise in an otherwise dull show.
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