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Thousands of fans attended a Sheryl Crow concert at USANA Amphitheatre on Monday night when a session of the Democratic National Convention broke out.
No, there wasn't a live feed from the convention's opening night displayed on a big screen or anything like that, but there was no mistaking Crow's political leanings during her engaging 1-hour, 40-minute performance.
Crow's new album, "Detours" is brimming with social commentary. It seems as if the 46-year-old songstress is mad as hell, and she's not going to fake it anymore. And if she can wrap her message up inside the hook-laden pop songs she's known for, hey, all the better.
That was evident from the opening of Monday's show, when Crow appeared solo on stage with her acoustic guitar and played "God Bless This Mess," the first track on her new album, in front of a backdrop featuring a large peace sign. The song's acoustic treatment is breezy enough, but the lyrics run much deeper -- such as when Crow, referring to President Bush, sings, "Then, he led us as a nation into a war all based on lies."
These days, Crow definitely wears her politics on her sleeves -- well, at least she would if she wore any, which she didn't Monday, looking comfortable on stage in a pair of blue jeans and a sleeveless vest. Crow, a strident Barack Obama supporter, arrived in Salt Lake City fresh off a Sunday concert in Denver that helped prime promotion for the Democratic National Convention. Crow is no idle -- as opposed to idol? -- endorser, however. She also is a spokeswoman for Rock The Vote, a national movement aimed at increasing the political power of youth through voter registration, education and activism.
Crow dedicated a good portion of her setlist to the current album, performing seven songs -- with topics ranging from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans ("Love is Free") to environmental disaster ("Gasoline"). The title track itself, "Detours," may be the most introspective, hinting at some very public personal issues Crow has overcome in the past few years -- specifically breast cancer and her breakup with famed cyclist Lance Armstrong.
"No matter how much you think you have your life in control, it's the detours that show you who you really are," Crow said in introducing the song.
Crow said her new tune "Motivation" was written with pseudo celebrities in mind.
"This is for all the new celebrities that are out there and you can't figure out why they're famous," Crow told the crowd before quickly adding, "Paris Hilton."
Crow easily switched off between acoustic and electric guitar on the evening, and stuck to straight lead vocals on another half-dozen numbers. She was ably accompanied by a seven-member backup band -- which included Peter Stroud (lead guitar), Tim Smith (guitar), Mike Rowe (keyboards), Jeremy Stacey (drums), Jon Button (bass), Wally Ingram (percussion) and Stephanie Alexander and Nayanna Holley (background vocals). Stroud, in particular, exuded a casual cool vibe as he calmly ripped off tasty lead melodies and slide guitar throughout the evening while never breaking a sweat.
The band extended a couple songs by incorporating some jams of cover tunes. In the middle of new tune "Gasoline," the band jumped into the anti-war-themed "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones. Crow and Co. even did a live mash-up of the two, staying with the "It's just a shot away" chorus of "Gimme Shelter" while returning to the musical undertow of "Gasoline." It was highly effective.
Additionally, the band launched into Johnny Nash's classic "I Can See Clearly Now" in the middle of "Can't Cry Anymore." That song also included one light moment when Crow, playing electric guitar, completely whiffed on an apparent lead segment.
"That was risky," she immediately told the audience with a laugh.
The heavy dose of new material didn't keep Crow from touching on her hit-laden back catalog. "Leaving Las Vegas," "The First Cut is the Deepest," "My Favorite Mistake," "If it Makes You Happy" and "Soak Up the Sun" all had the crowd up and dancing in the aisles.
Crow closed the main set with "Everyday is a Winding Road," then opened her encores with the bubbly "All I Wanna Do." Her final song, however, was a tour de force rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground." The cover was a revelation, with a rocking, frenetic main guitar riff and extremely high energy. Crow brought back Toots Hibbert, from opener Toots and the Maytals (who were making their final appearance on this tour), to add some vocal flavor, and background singers Alexander and Holley also received extended turns in the spotlight.
The evening's politics aside, "Higher Ground" may have seemed an unlikely candidate for Crow's concert closer, but it certainly earned a high approval rating from the crowd.
Jamaican band Toots and the Maytals opened the show, playing seven reggae-tinged songs in a 40-minute set.
British singer-songwriter James Blunt took over from there, delivering an enthusiastic 11-song effort in 55 minutes. Highlights included "Carry You Home," "Goodbye My Lover," "You're Beautiful" and a rollicking cover of Slade's "Coz I Luv You" that saw Blunt jump off the stage and take a jaunt through the reserved seating aisles.
Sheryl Crow
USANA Amphitheatre
Aug. 25, 2008
1. God Bless This Mess
2. Shine Over Babylon
3. Love is Free
4. Leaving Las Vegas
5. Strong Enough
6. Can't Cry Anymore
7. Motivation
8. The First Cut is the Deepest
9. My Favorite Mistake
10. Gasoline
11. Detours
12. Weather Channel
13. If it Makes You Happy
14. Out of Our Heads
15. Soak Up the Sun
16. Everyday is a Winding Road
Encore
1. All I Wanna Do
2. Higher Ground
Performance time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
James Blunt
1. Breathe
2. Wiseman
3. Carry You Home
4. I'll Take Everything
5. Goodbye My Lover
6. One of the Brightest Stars
7. Coz I Luv You
8. You're Beautiful
9. So Long, Jimmy
10. Same Mistake
11. 1973
Performance time: 55 minutes |
