Show Date: August 11, 2011
Ticket Price: $60
Let’s just get this out of the way. I am an Adele fan. A recent convert, I discovered my love for Adele after the originally scheduled show at the Crystal Ballroom was sold out. For a few weeks, I thought of June 3 as “the day I’m not going to see Adele”. Tragedy. Then, a stroke of luck (for me): Adele got laryngitis, and had to cancel the rest of the tour. The re-scheduled Portland show was moved to the larger capacity Edgefield amphitheater. This means … more tickets. Lucky me!
First time for me at Edgefield. Early show! Apparently, there’s a stage curfew of 9:45pm on weeknights. So this Thursday night show has a gate time of 5pm, show time 6:30pm. Concert is all GA. Day of the show, McMenamins announced that people holding original Crystal tickets could get in 15 minutes early. I guess that’s fair. Luckily, some friends of ours were able to get in at the 5pm gate and held some decent seats for us. Towards the back, but sound was good, and we could see the stage. It’s all good.
I could go into a lengthy description of the venue, but let’s just say 1) parking sucks, 2) food and drink lines are ridiculous, 3) food options are decent, but they ran out of pizza at 6pm (!), 4) beer is mostly McMenamins ales, so not bad at all. Prices were not too crazy, considering. The amphitheater itself is pretty, although I did think it would be nice to have a better view of the river. But enough of that. Music!
The opener is Wanda Jackson. I didn’t know much about her before the show. Just that Jack White recently produced an album for her, and her career goes back to the 1950’s. She was fun. Told some stories about the old days, when she dated Elvis, and how he convinced her to break away from country to try rock-n-roll. Wanda must be in her 70’s, but she looked hot in a sparkly pink jacket with fringe. No idea on set list, I didn’t actually know most of her songs. She sang a cover of “Heartbreak Hotel” that was fun. Also a song that she said made it number in Japan in 1959. Not sure about that, but with lyrics like this, it seemed a little, um, non-traditional?
I’ve been to Nagasaki Hiroshima too the same I did to them baby I can do to you
Cause I’m a Fujiyama mama and I’m just about to blow my top
Wanda closed out the set with her cover of Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good”. I’m not a big Amy Winehouse fan, but I liked it.
After re-fueling with some food and beer, we’re ready for Adele. Here we go.
Adele starts off with “Hometown Glory” from 19. First the music, then just her voice, and after the first verse she appears on stage. She looks good, black pants, long black flowing blouse, hair done up and curled, face made up. My favorite part of the ensemble was her red heels. Amazing shoes … but then, I’m a sucker for red heels. Overall, she looked great.
And she sounds amazing. That voice. So big and beautiful. Listening to it felt like coming home.
Next song is “I’ll Be Waiting for You”. I want to say this is a personal favorite of mine. The problem is, most of the songs are “favorites”. I have to admit, I’m a bit obsessed with the entire album 21. At the beginning of “I’ll Be Waiting for You”, a curtain on the stage drops, and we can see the full stage. Really nice, with lots of shaded lamps hanging down at various heights. There’s a chair for Adele, with a small table for her water. Nothing flashy, but it’s just right for this music.
Adele takes a moment to address the crowd. The sun hasn’t set yet, and apparently she’s only played one other outdoor show, but it was dark. It sounds like it’s unusual for her to get to see so much of the crowd. I think I read once that she’s not entirely comfortable playing for large crowds, so I wasn’t sure if seeing us all there would make her nervous. But there was no sign of that. She seemed totally at ease on the stage and interacted with the audience like the pro she is.
And, while I fully admit I’m pre-disposed to like her, Adele was charming. Partly, it’s the London accent. Not sure why that makes a difference, but even the way she curses is adorable. Then there’s her laugh. A cackle really. So funny, coming out of someone with such a beautiful and smooth voice. When she laughs, it makes her sound like someone you might actually know.
Although, given the nature of her songs and sources for her lyrics, maybe it is just us women who really want to know her. The crowd is mostly comprised of women, but spanning a large range of ages. I saw teenagers wearing her shirts, lots of 20 and 30 and 40 somethings, and older. And it’s great to see. This isn’t pop, it isn’t dance music. It’s soulful and bluesy and current and real and it’s oh so good.
“Don’t You Remember” is next, followed by “Turning Tables” and “Set Fire to the Rain”. When “Set Fire to the Rain” started, I turned to my companion and told him I was so glad she played those back to back, because I always thought they should’ve been together on the album. That’s when he looked at me like I may have sunk just a little too deep into the Adele obsession. Maybe he’s right. But haven’t we all been there at some point? There’s that one album that just coincides with where you are in your life at that precise moment, and magic happens. Then to hear those songs performed live, and so beautifully, the emotion is almost indescribable. “Magic” is the best I can do. And no, this is not an objective review. You were warned at the beginning.
I’m skipping ahead to another one of my favorites, “My Same”. YOTS asked before the show which song I most hoped to hear live, and this was it for me. Adele dedicated this to her best friend Norah. Very sweet.
“Rumour Has It’ (yet another personal favorite) and “Right as Rain” were the more upbeat songs of the night. Lots of dancing in the crowd. “One and Only” had been another personal favorite, until Adele told us “this is a song about someone I fucking hate”. Not sure if I can hear it quite the same way again.
“Lovesong”, the Cure cover, was next. Honestly, I love the Cure, but this is my least favorite song on the album. And judging by the crowd reaction, I’m not the only one. Everyone sat down for this one. Adele had a great story about how her mom took her to see The Cure when she was 3 years old, and it was her first concert, and it made her proud to be British. I liked her story. Still, the song is just too slow, or something, for me.
Things picked up again after that with “Chasing Pavements”, her first big hit. And she closed out the first set with another cover, “Make You Feel My Love”. This one was beautiful. Adele dedicated this one to Amy Winehouse, and asked us all to hold up our cell phones, so “Amy can see us”. Very touching. She also told us this was her last song, “wink wink”.
Adele didn’t make us wait long for the encore. Started off with “Someone Like You”. This is the first song she wrote on the “new” album. (Took me a while to realize that 21 is still considered “new”). It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful song, and Adele let us sing it along with her.
Never mind, I’ll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you
Don’t forget me, I begged, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead
And while it was cathartic to sing those achingly beautiful lyrics along with all of these people who get it, I have to admit it was relief when Adele took the microphone back, and we could hear her voice. The real voice of the song.
She closed, of course, with “Rolling in the Deep”, which I assume is the biggest hit to date. Powerful, and the perfect way to close it out.
Honestly, once it was done, I couldn’t believe it was over. She played everything I wanted to hear, I wasn’t disappointed . . . but I wanted more.
Next time. I’ll be there. And I’ll get my tickets to the first show.
Set List:
Hometown Glory
I’ll Be Waiting for You
Don’t You Remember
Turning Tables
Set Fire to the Rain
If It Hadn’t Been for Love
My Same
Take It All
Rumour Has It
Right As Rain
One and Only
Lovesong
Chasing Pavements
Make You Feel My Love
Encore: Someone Like You
Encore: Rolling in the Deep
