This is the third time I’ve gotten to
see Ms Collins and each concert has been different.
The first was about four years ago
when I saw her at the Rosemont Theatre with a full orchestra. The second time was
last year at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, sharing the bill with Don McLean.
Finally this past Saturday, I got to see her again at the beautifully renovated Genesee Theatre in
Waukegan.
Her lead-in act was a talented singer
songwriter Rachel Sage. Apparently they tour frequently together. She plays a
vast majority of her own material predominantly on piano and a little guitar as
well. Her style is best put as poetic-jazzy. She has a pleasant stage presence
but it was lost on the decidedly older audience. (I’m sure the fact that she has
numerous blue highlights in her hair may not have helped that either.) Her music
tells stories and weren’t bad ... just unfamiliar. Actually, she did have her latest
album, Blue Roses, released on Saturday as well. On it is a duet with Judy
Collins covering Neil Young’s hit “Helpless”. By her own admission it’s her
favorite song on the album ... but she didn’t perform it this night (IMO a big mistake).
Judy praised her highly all night ... so perhaps with a little more mentoring she
may become a future star.
Judy Collins is a modern folk legend.
She played to a far from capacity house ... their loss. At 75 years young, Judy’s
voice was in top form, reaching extended highs multiple times (she even joked
about it by pretending to look at her watch during one of her prolonged held
notes).
Accompanied by her musical director on piano, she opened with Chelsea
Morning and proceeded to sing a variety of songs, including a medley of Country
Roads / Leaving on a Jet Plane, a couple of Irish folk songs and a Leonard Cohen
poem which she turned into one of her album cuts. Interspersed were numerous
tales about her childhood and how her father influenced her career, her days in
Colorado learning about folk music, the influence of Leonard Cohen and how she
was influenced by traditional Irish compositions. Judy also told a story of how
she borrowed a yet to be recorded song of John Phillips. When he later
complimented her on it, she reminded him that it was actually his song ... he
admitted not remembering that he had written it.
In addition, she paid tribute to
her dear departed friend, Joan Rivers, with whom she said they were planning on performing
together at the time of her passing.
The show closed with probably her most
famous number, Both Sides Now. We were treated to a one song encore of Somewhere
Over the Rainbow. She departed the stage to a standing ovation. I would strongly
recommend seeing her performance if you get the chance.
McHenry, Il.
More great shows coming to The Genesee Theatre:
December 6th - Rockin' The Holidays with Felix Cavaliere's Rascals
December 14th - An Evening of Holiday and Hits with Michael McDonald
(both of these shows promise the artists' best known hits ... along with some special holiday music)
December 19th - Sheila E
December 28th - The BoDeans with Taylor Hicks
January 18th - comedian Steven Wright (one of my all-time favorites ... gonna have to catch this show!)
