Concert review: Melissa Etheridge, November 11, 2011 Chandler, Arizona

Melissa Etheridge is a 21st century trobairitz. Few have captured the art of composing, writing and performing songs of courtly love as she. Although she may sing in her concert opening song “Fearless Love,” that she “wants a fearless love” and “won’t settle for anything less,” it was apparent for those in attendance at the sold out show at the Ovations LIVE! Showroom at the Wild Horse Pass Casino in Chandler, Arizona on 11-11-11, that the performance of her music is her fearless love. Etheridge may be a wonderful mother, outstanding ambassador for cancer survival and role model for many, but watching Etheridge’s face light up continually during the evening, one could tell that there is no greater love for her than performing music. She relished that her “job” for the night was “playing rock and roll all night long.” For the next two hours, so did the audience.

As drummer Blair Sinta’s bass drum pounded out the beat, bringing the crowd to its feet, Etheridge walked out strumming her signature Adamas twelve string acoustic electric guitar and while surveying the crowd, launched into “Fearless Love,” one of four songs off her latest studio album of the same name that she performed during the night. Fitting also as this was stop two of her three date Fearless Love Fall Tour.

Even though Etheridge had the crowd enraptured from the start, it took until the third song, “I Want To Come Over,” before the audience sing-alongs began, which was to be as expected as the more prominent songs, such as the later sung “Come To My Window” tend to lead to greater audience participation. Even though she has reached the self-proclaimed age of 50 and by Etheridge’s own admission, when trying to view a sign in the audience, that she “can’t read cursive anymore” her voice remains sultry, smoky and strong as ever. What a pleasure it was, after hearing countless karaoke and American Idol versions of “I’m The Only One,” to hear it done by the original artist.

Although known best for her singing and songwriting, Etheridge showed she can play a little guitar herself as evident in instrumental segments of “Don’t You Need” and “Nervous.” With the latter song she segued into “Ain’t No Sunshine,” the Bill Wither’s tune that seems tailor made for the voice and soul of Etheridge.

No song better captured the emotion found in Etheridge’s songwriting and stage performing than “Run For Life,” her ode to her personal battle with cancer, seven years now cancer free. With her face and voice expressing the pain found in the opening lyrics to the hope and optimism of the chorus, anyone in the audience who has been touched by cancer most likely shed a tear. Deservedly the song received a standing ovation at its conclusion.

Etheridge saved the most popular for last, ending the night with “I’m The Only One,” “Bring Me Some Water” and “Like The Way I Do,” trading guitar licks with guitarist Yogi Lonich, including some fret on fret action on “Bring Me Some Water,” as well as playing off bassist Brett Simons. The trio of Simons, Lonich and Sinta all became percussionists as Etheridge walked the stage attacking her twelve string during “Like I Do.” It was vamping to be sure but was met with great enthusiasm.

As an encore, Etheridge toned things down with “Gently We Row,” the closing song off of Fearless Love, with her forsaking her guitar and armed only with a microphone. It was a quiet end to a rocking evening.

Despite Etheridge’s ability to rock and roll, to sing with emotion, to tell personal stories with her song and to engage the audience with anecdotes, ala Springsteen, if you mention to most people that you are attending a Melissa Etheridge concert, you are met with indifference. As much as I would prefer not to play the gender or gender preference card, I couldn’t help but feel that if Etheridge had been a straight male, the evening’s turnout would have been 14,000 instead of 1,400. But then again a trobairitz performs only for the elite. Those in attendance were indeed fortunate.