Melissa Ferrick

Hearing a guitarist play live is magical, as you watch their fingers glide across the fret board in a seemingly effortless manner, and this is what I was expecting of Melissa Ferrick, but I was absolutely stunned and blown away when she performed with four additional guitarists supporting her, creating the most magnificent sound. She opened the show with one of her folk rock improvisations, and played an incredible solo guitar piece, before introducing herself, and welcoming her accompanists on stage to join her.

Although she’s had several problems over the years selling her recordings, seeing her perform live was massively eye opening to her talent, and that’s how she should be seen, in her organic live shows. Hearing her lyrics live was incredible and the messages that deal with gay and lesbian themes became even more poignant watching her emotions translate through her performance.

She played a great selection of tracks, from her early work from Massive Blur, right up to The Truth Is, which was awesome, as everyone was singing along and hadn’t hears those tracks live before. She’s incredibly talented, and one of those performers you just have to see live.

Elizabeth was a wonder, creating electronic percussion and voice tracks on the spot to give the audience a small insight into her creative process. Her melodies and chord changes are fascinating, her lyrics provocative, and her syncopation spot on. My only complaint is that her set was WAY too short, lasting less than an hour. And that she played nothing from her older albums, like Taller Children, that I was dying to hear. OK I guess that is two complaints :) I can't wait to see her again. Come back soon, Ms. Ziman!