A brilliant singer-songwriter with a pension for child-like veracity fused with soviet piano chord undertones, Regina Spektor’s music is unlike anything else out there. She uses her voice as instrument, and makes percussion sounds with her tongue as she stretches the notes to give her music a branded style that is solely Spektor.
This Russian-American songstress performed Wed., Oct. 14 at the historic Radio City Music hall in New York to a sold out crowd, and wowed the audience with impeccable vocal candor. Only Spektor could sing about subject matter ranging from sunbathing, Jesus and God, to exaggerated drug use, sexual promiscuity and the Holocaust all with the same toe-tapping cheer that makes her music a quizzical combination of enlightening and innocent.
The show had a minimal light display that basically just changed color with the mood of the songs or refracted off a disco ball to give the hall a starry night feel, but it fit perfectly as Spektor’s presence alone was enough to light up the stage.
The opening band, Jupiter One, was actually pretty enjoyable. They were like a Vampire Weekend/David Bowie/Brian Wilson amalgamation that I didn’t hate. And I was not able to confirm this as I could find no documentation of who was in Spektor’s band, but I’m maybe 80 percent confident that the lead singer of Jupiter One is also a violinist in Spektor’s band.
Overall it was a memorable night, and as always Spektor was more than sincerely gracious to her crowd, stating her amazement at having the opportunity to perform at Radio City Music Hall. Check out the set list below, and please, please check out Regina Spektor, because anyone who can make the phrase “someone next door is fucking to one of my songs” sound innocent, deserves some recognition.
Set List
The Calculation
Eet
Folding Chair
Ode To Divorce
Machine
Laughing With
One More Time With Feeling
Two Birds
Blue Lips
-November Rain Solo-
On The Radio
The Call
Dance Anthem Of The 80s
Silly Eye-Colour Generalizations
Bobbing For Apples
That Time
Apres Moi
Poor Little Rich Boy
Ink Stains
Human Of The Year
Man Of A Thousand Faces
-Encore-
Samson
Us
Fidelity
Hotel Song
Love, You’re A Whore
Regina Spektor’s newest album, “Far,” is in stores now waiting for you to buy it. Here is the video of “Laughing With,” from the album.
I also have this less-than-great video footage, but if you are a fan, you may appreciate it. My seats were far away so I found someone’s footage of the show on Youtube and the sound isn’t bad.
