I couldn't care less I'm transfixed in this absolute bliss...
On Thursday night, I went to see Imogen Heap play the State Theatre. While I adore her unique and beautiful voice and had been told she was an amazing live performer, I was ill-prepared for such an incredible concert.
She graced the stage with a complete lack of pretence (on a motorised couch!) to introduce her support acts, who were both local artists: Café of the Gate of Salvation - a fantastic choir, and Linda Neil aka Lulu Bliss - a folksy violinist.
The laid-back yet enthusiastic crowd seemed to know most songs and appreciated every single one. Which could have been due to the online poll conducted - where the top 12 songs voted for each city were incorporated into that show.
She played for two and a half hours: introduced her two accompanying musicians (a cellist on keyboards and a percussionist who played drums, bongos, xylophone, and the musical saw); shared anecdotes behind songs; discussed all the things happening onstage.
I was most impressed with how innovative she was in creating live music: she used a recording of a bonfire where the crackling became an irregular rhythm; she had microphones on her wrists which she used to live-record instruments (cymbals, wine glasses, vocal noises, etc.) then loop them via her laptop to create the platform over which she would sing; she spoke about getting people to send in unusual sounds (including the striking of a match, a dishwasher door closing, water in a frying pan) which she's used in recent recordings.
The Walk
Goodnight and Go
Speeding Cars
Between Sheets
Aha!
The Fire
Canvas
Wait It Out
Clear the Area
Lifeline
Let Go (Frou Frou cover)
Just For Now (she divided the theatre into three parts for this and had each section singing the chorus in rounds while she ad libbed and sang the verses over the top - it sounded beautiful)
Come Here Boy
First Train Home
Swoon
Little Bird
Earth
The Moment I Said It
ENCORE (which she didn't even bother leave stage for, saying she felt ridiculous walking off when everyone knew she'd be coming right back)
Hide and Seek (this is one of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard and the live version gave me tears and goosebumps)
Headlock
Tidal
*Favourites in bold
Musical ingenuity aside, she was warm, funny, gracious, sincere, genuine and captivating - I couldn't count the number of times I caught myself gaping in awe at the sounds she was using to create something so wondrous. Or at her haunting vocals and their range. Or how effortless and joyous her multi-instrumental ability. Without doubt one of the best artists musicians performers I've ever seen live.
She graced the stage with a complete lack of pretence (on a motorised couch!) to introduce her support acts, who were both local artists: Café of the Gate of Salvation - a fantastic choir, and Linda Neil aka Lulu Bliss - a folksy violinist.
The laid-back yet enthusiastic crowd seemed to know most songs and appreciated every single one. Which could have been due to the online poll conducted - where the top 12 songs voted for each city were incorporated into that show.
She played for two and a half hours: introduced her two accompanying musicians (a cellist on keyboards and a percussionist who played drums, bongos, xylophone, and the musical saw); shared anecdotes behind songs; discussed all the things happening onstage.
I was most impressed with how innovative she was in creating live music: she used a recording of a bonfire where the crackling became an irregular rhythm; she had microphones on her wrists which she used to live-record instruments (cymbals, wine glasses, vocal noises, etc.) then loop them via her laptop to create the platform over which she would sing; she spoke about getting people to send in unusual sounds (including the striking of a match, a dishwasher door closing, water in a frying pan) which she's used in recent recordings.
The Walk
Goodnight and Go
Speeding Cars
Between Sheets
Aha!
The Fire
Canvas
Wait It Out
Clear the Area
Lifeline
Let Go (Frou Frou cover)
Just For Now (she divided the theatre into three parts for this and had each section singing the chorus in rounds while she ad libbed and sang the verses over the top - it sounded beautiful)
Come Here Boy
First Train Home
Swoon
Little Bird
Earth
The Moment I Said It
ENCORE (which she didn't even bother leave stage for, saying she felt ridiculous walking off when everyone knew she'd be coming right back)
Hide and Seek (this is one of the most gorgeous songs I've ever heard and the live version gave me tears and goosebumps)
Headlock
Tidal
*Favourites in bold
Musical ingenuity aside, she was warm, funny, gracious, sincere, genuine and captivating - I couldn't count the number of times I caught myself gaping in awe at the sounds she was using to create something so wondrous. Or at her haunting vocals and their range. Or how effortless and joyous her multi-instrumental ability. Without doubt one of the best artists musicians performers I've ever seen live.