It's been a spectacularly shitty week, but at least it began on an extremely high note. Almost on impulse I bought tickets to see Susie Suh perform live at the Cafe du Nord last week, and I was quite impressed. (So was J-Lu, I think, who was kind of dragged to go almost at the last moment.)
I'm only really a casual fan of the women-with-acoustic-guitars genre, but there was something compelling about her 2005 self-titled album that made me take notice. There is nothing necessarily groundbreaking about it -- nothing you won't hear on a Lilith Fair compilation, perhaps, with self-confessional lyrics like "Oh I'm missing you / Or maybe I'm missing who I was when I was with you," and an urban-glossy production -- but there is an autumnal chilll that runs through Suh's songs that gives the album an edge. Most important, Suh is gifted with an incredible voice, all husky and soulful, which breaks at perfect moments (hear the chorus of "Light on My Shoulder").
In concert that amazing voice is, unbelievably, even better, now embellished with a slight rawness that fits the emotional intensity of her lyrics. Indeed, the concert was completely stripped down: with her on guitar and vocals and another guy on drums. (You also get the chance to see how fine a guitar player she is.)
To my initial worry, Suh began the short set with four of my favorite songs on the album ("Won't You Come Again," "Your Battlefield," "Harmony," and "Lucille," if I remember correctly). But this anxiety was dispelled with a couple of terrific new songs ("Canopy," probably about her mother, and "Sweet Love," which began with lines like "Clap your hands if you love someone in this room," or words to that effect), and a few well-placed surprise covers ("Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," "Since I Fell For You," "Is This Love"). All together a most excellent experience; I highly recommend catching her in concert if she comes by your town.
(As always seems to be the case, I ran into a couple of former students at the concert as well; today Amy and I were pondering the lack of enthusiasm in the crowd, particularly the center. Maybe because it was on Superbowl Sunday night, and there was work the next day...)