Martha Wainwright (6/7/05)



As probably many people have, I discovered Martha Wainwright through her brother Rufus. I saw her on stage with him in Pittsburgh and I thought she had a great voice and presence. Since then, I've grabbed up some of her "home-made" EP's that she would sell at his shows. Then it seemed like it was forever before she finally got her shot to be center stage.

She re-released her Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole EP first, then shortly after released a new full-length album and a supporting tour. I was very excited to see her tour solo, but even more excited when I saw she was coming to the Beachland Tavern! The show was only $10. They day of the show came and we got there right as the doors opened so I could grab the front table, prepared for what would be an amazing show. I was giddy like a school girl seeing Aaron Carter.

Opening was Good Morning Valentine from Akron, OH. Truthfully, I hadn't even thought anything about them prior to the show because they were eclipsed by my excitement with seeing Martha. They came out on stage, four guys and a girl, and just busted into a jam like few I've seen. They continued on for a couple songs and I was just amazed. Their set was over before I was expecting it, which felt like someone turning off a movie right in the middle of watching it. They left the stage with me definitely wanting more.

Martha walked out on stage in a lacy dress and some beat-up converse. She immediately starts connecting with the crowd. After playing some songs, she asks the audience if anyone had listened to her father's new CD. The audience was silent (crowd not seeming like the Loudon Wainwright III crowd). She admits that she was asking because she hadn't, and she needed to have something to say next time she talked with him. She went on about the rest of her family, saying that Rufus was probably playing in a castle in Rome somewhere, where he belonged. She then realized she was probably sharing too much, but admitting that she felt open with us.

Later she mentioned that she would be selling CD's and that she would sign anything. Leo shouted out a suggestive "YEAH!" to which she retorted that she has a really long name. At that point she ordered another margarita and blamed it on the tequila. But then she floated right in to covering Leonard Cohen's "Tower of Song" flawlessly. Her voice, and energy were amazing on stage that night.

After a great show, she stepped down off the front of the stage where I was sitting to sell CD's (most people sell them at the back). Brendan offered to buy her a shot, which she gladly accepted, and I offered to open her CD's for her as she signed them. I'm such a dork, but I thought I was the coolest person on the planet that night, opening her CD's and chatting with her. I got a signed CD and poster thanking me for the help.

Anytime Martha... anytime.


Posted: Tue - July 12, 2005 at 10:27 AM           |

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