9/24/08
North Bethesda, MD
Last night marked the arrival of a highly anticipated concert event from one of my all-time favorite artists: the enigmatic and brilliant Randy Newman. This living legend, if you didn't already know, has composed some of the most memorable post-modern American tunes this side of Bob Dylan and the other side of Billy Joel. His eclectic sound runs the gamut from New Orleans-themed celebratory blues stomps to contemplative and desperate ballads for loves and family past and present, along with some irreverent and slightly rambling semi-political ruminations on current (and not-s0-current) events and, probably most lucratively for him, a series of successful theme songs and scores for various animated Pixar films.
This guy has done and seen it all throughout his many decades in the music business, and his songwriting reflects that. His newest album, "Harps & Angels" lays out more landscapes of life and reflections on aging and the ability to stay relevant than any autobiography written in the last thirty years. One striking aspect regarding many of his songs is how they've remained amazingly relevant over the years, and he continues to churn out new classics on this latest disc which have the familiar sting of being topical, but have that timeless feel. Highlights include "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country", written from the perspective of a proud American who doesn't happen to be the best at arguing his case that our country and it's leaders aren't so bad compared to what the rest of the world has seen throughout history. The free-form, almost out of control romp "A Piece of the Pie" continues the political trend; a hodge-podge of free-flowing ideas of what it means to be a patriot and an American, and who in the music business still really cares (Hint: he might've written "Doctor My Eyes"). The album ends on very high note with the stunning and graceful "Feels Like Home", a song that's been around for awhile and still has great emotional impact. Definitely worth a listen and, like so many Newman songs before it, would be worth a cover or two.
But lets get back to the show. Newman's performance was at the Strathmore music center in Maryland. A relatively new, and well built venue for performances such as his. A little sidebar here: I have actually performed on this stage myself! My old a cappella group from college, Juxtaposition, performed a couple of songs as the entertainment for the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation fund raiser in 2006. We were introduced by the Bush twins, and I literally "shook my booty" in front of G.H.W. Bush and family during one song. Despite Bush's giddy grin during this performance, I wish I'd had the setup that Newman had last night instead of what we had to offer at that same venue...
For this show, Newman's entire setup was simply a grand piano and a microphone. I have to admit I was a little disappointed in this at first impression. Much of his recorded works include lush, full band and orchestral arrangements, (usually just variations of his piano licks, but still...always a nice touch to fill out the sound.) But this method of performance was certainly much more intimate and personal. We got to hear a great deal of his most well-known songs broken down to their basic essence of just a man and some keys; a setting probably not unlike the very nights sat down to write them. This led to the feeling like I was sitting in on him entertaining a large dinner party. And like a large dinner party, the audience was gracious and receptive. Newman himself was at once introspective and amazingly funny. He had some wonderfully hysterical lines regarding his age, his family and, his music.
Set 1 & Set 2
It's Money That I Love, Great Nations of Europe
I Miss You, Feels Like Home
Short People, Harps & Angels
Korean Parents, In Germany Before the War
Laugh and Be Happy, A Piece of the Pie
A Few Words In Defense of Our Country, Potholes
You Can Leave Your Hat On ,You've Got a Friend in Me
Birmingham, Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)
Marie, Louisiana, 1927, My Life is Good, I Love LA
Same Girl, God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)
I'm Dead, But I Don't Know It (audience sing along!), Dixie Flyer, The World Isn't Fair, Baltimore
Political Science, Real Emotional Girl, Rednecks (great story)
Encore:
I Want Everyone to Like Me
Sail Away
*These sets are my best memory of what he played (30ish songs!) This is probably not the complete list or correct order. But I did my best!
A great show from a great man! I can't endorse him enough! Pick up "The Best of Randy Newman" or "The Randy Newman Songbook" as starters and prepare yourself for an off-beat, shuffling and understated genius who encapsulates the world through whimsical, emotional and passionate songs that are sure to resonate on any number of levels.
-JB
"The time has come for us to say good bye now...Mr. President"
