The energy in the air was electric. Not from a crowd, but from me. This was about two hours before we would even leave for the venue. I’d been stoked since March, and it was beginning to show in the air currents. Time seemed endless. For all I could tell, it was. My mind was a mish-mash of various snippets of lyrics. Snatches of songs. Little verbal ticks. I can’t focus on this Herbie Hancock album! It’s St. Vincent time! Finally, it was time for us to drive to the Cain’s. Half way through the ride, it hit us. The tickets had been forgotten back at the house. Oh agony, oh shame! How could this happen to an Annie Clark faithful such as I?! But my hysteria was appeased when I asked a friend who was already at the venue how it was going. She said the doors weren’t even open yet. I caught a break. After a mad scramble back to the house, we were finally on our way for real. When we got to Cain’s Ballroom, I was surprised. 30 minutes after the supposed starting time, the doors still weren’t open. Apparently, the opening act, Shearwater, hadn’t arrived yet. Oh well. At least I didn’t miss anything.
Once the door actually opened I was treated to the familiar sight of the Cain’s Ballroom. The Cain’s is my favorite spot in Tulsa. It’s way more intimate than the Brady Theater and it is just a neat place to see a show. Anyways, onto the actual concert. Shearwater, who I had heard of but never heard, opened the concert very successfully. They played some great noise rock and I thoroughly enjoyed their set. But that’s not why we were there. The anticipation in the moments before Annie Clark and her band took the stage was thicker than a Nokia phone. I think the crowd probably would have rioted had she came out five minutes later than she did. And then, there she was. And everything became right with the world. I’m sorry guys, but I can’t even put into words the magic of St. Vincent live. Just, go witness it for yourself. Even if you’ve never heard a single one of her songs. Just go. Words would just cheapen it.
SETLIST
1 Marrow
2 Cheerleader
3 Actor Out of Work
4 Save Me From What I Want
5 Chloe In The Afternoon
6 Black Rainbow
7 Dilettante
8 Cruel
9 Champagne Year
10 Surgeon
11 Year of The Tiger
12 Northern Lights
12 A cover of She Is Beyond Good and Evil by The Pop Group
13 Krokodil
14 Your Lips Are Red
Kindly inform me if I forgot any songs.
HOLY CRAP OH MY GOD MOMENT
Annie’s stage dive and crowd surf during Krokodil. I helped carry one of my idols.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?! MOMENT
In between two of the songs, a very intoxicated chick climbed on stage. Annie asked her name, she replied “Bob Marley”. She then whispered in Annie’s ear. “She asked me to play American Pie two times in a row.” Security then proceeded to escort her off stage. “I don’t know how to proceed from here.” said Annie, looking visibly amused and a little bit flustered. So she just continued to play rockin’ music.
OH BOY, I AM SO LUCKY
After the show, Annie was signing autographs. I got my vinyl copy of Actor signed. I still have no clue what it says above her name. I don’t need to, though. Here is a picture. If you can decipher that, kindly tell me.
FUN FACT
Annie Clark was born in Tulsa, so this was a Homecoming show in a way.
FAVORITE PERFORMANCE
It was all great, but I think either Surgeon or Black Rainbow made me happiest.
CONCLUSION
Best night of my life? Oh my god yes.
