Fall concert review: Sarah

Jasmine Kirk
Editor in Chief

hen Sarah McLachlan was in Prince

George in 2011, she brought Butterfly
Boucher and Melissa McClellan and put ona
miniature version of Lilith Fair. The show was
relaxed and featured a variety of McLachlan’s
classic hits intertwined with McClellan and
Boucher’s original work, sung in harmony by
all three women.

This time, McLachlan created a comparably
intimate atmosphere, with soft lighting
above a stage that had plush couches and
chairs dispersed among the full piano, drum
set, and microphone stands. McLachlan
began the show by explaining she would
still be playing the old songs that everyone
knew and loved, but that she also wanted
to expose the audience to her new album,
Shine On. The smoke machine started, lights
came on, and after the first note it became
clear that this was going to be a rock show.

McLachlan has always had an impressive

Cusinie of India

1063 5th Ave, Prince
George, BC
(250) 564-2129

karahikingprnncegeorge
Trip Advisor Canada
karahiking.ca

voice, and no one is expecting that to
change any time soon. It took her a song
or two to get really warmed up, but when
she finished in the encore of a two-hour

set with “Song for my Father,” she sounded
as strong as she had twenty years ago. The
show was low on gimmicks, but she invited
members of the audience up on stage to
show (and take selfies) from her “living
room couch,” and she also read audience

@ Lunch Buffet

Mon-Fri 11:-30-1:30p.m
(Get 50% Of. perchase of byt)

Purchase any entrée and get
the second entrée for 50% off

*Dine-in Only (one coupon per visit ortable)
* Coupon valid untill end of October2014 .

McLachlan

questions from a hat. These distractions were
entertaining (the audience witnessed about
three minutes of yodeling, and got to hear

a story about McLachlan’s speaker-dancing

Lori-Ann Ryser

Vv
Sy
S
os
Wn
<
is)
a
S
v
wn
=
&
wo
<
S
iS
SG
=|
U
=
i
g
is}
A

days) interludes from a powerful set.

The concert was good--really good.
McLachlan didn’t deliver any surprises. What
was particularly amazing about this show
was her band. Guitarist Joel Shearer, who

Culture 9

has recorded and toured with artists such
as Joe Cocker, Santana, Michael Buble, and
Damien Rice, was absolutely spectacular.
His solos were spot on, hitting every single
note with clarity and precision, while still
portraying a relaxed and non-committal
stage presence. Bassist Tim Smith offered
the same effortlessness on the other side
of the stage. Smith was able to draw the
attention of the audience and added to
every song, but did not take away from
McLachlan’s singing, a skill that every
good background musician should have.

McLachlan mentioned that Dorian Crozier
(on drums) and Vincent Jones (on keyboard
and percussion) had played with her for

a number of year and it showed in the
chemistry that these three had on stage.
Somehow, these five people were able to
perform an engaging and entertaining show,
despite the fact that they had played every
one of these songs ad nauseum. The audience
could never get sick of hearing the same “In
the Arms of an Angel” or “Ice Cream,” so long
as these artists enjoy playing them so much.

LET’S GET PRINCE
GEORGE GROWING!

e The FUTURE is 100,000!
e Needs Before Wants
¢ Improve Civic Pride

phone 250.964.3311
<2, cell 250.613.5622
-s.zurowskiformayor.com

ae facebook.com/donformayorpg

ry) twitter.com/donformayorpg