Audience

CDR

2

DVD 3540; lineage: Audience master, recorded 3 metres from left-hand side PA stack. Source: Factory-matched pair of Schoeps CCM 41V microphones (DINa mounted) -> Marantz PMD661 recorder with Oade Concert Mod (-18 dB gain/44.1 kHz/24 bit WAV). Audacity 2.0.5 -> FLAC (compression level 8). Taper: Ian Macdonald (ianmacd)

St. Vincent is in town for the second night of her Digital Witness tour, the
European leg of which, consisting of just seven dates, can only be described
as short. I consider myself fortunate that Annie Clark has picked Amsterdam's
Paradiso for one of those shows.

'Digital Witness' hasn't even been released yet, so much of what will be
played this evening is new to my ears, including one song that isn't even on
the new album.

Listening to a new album performed live without having had the luxury of
being able to play it at my leisure a couple of times beforehand is usually a
recipe for indifference in me, but tonight these brand new songs make a big
impression. I can safely say that St. Vincent's new album will pack quite a
punch.

Annie looks the part as ever. With fishnet legs up to her armpits and sporting
a voluminous shock of newly silver-grey hair, she's a striking and formidable
apparition. Add to that a killer voice, serious guitar skills, the ability to
write good songs and the self-confidence that goes with the knowledge that one
can tick all of those boxes, and you have an artist who offers the complete
package.

The place isn't sold-out, but must have come quite close. Only the top balcony
remains closed for business tonight. The rest of the Paradiso is full.

The crowd are enthusiastic, but know how to behave, i.e. when to shut up. If
only every audience could be like this evening's.

Performance and crowd combine tonight for a thoroughly enjoyable experience,
captured here in a quality to match. If you're a fan of St. Vincent, you need
this. If you don't yet know the music of St. Vincent, you probably need it
even more.

I'd never regarded St. Vincent as a must-see before this evening; consistently
enjoyable, certainly, but not unmissable. That changed this evening. Tonight's
performance and new songs catapulted her into the big league for me.

As always, samples are attached to the torrent to allow you to reach the
conclusion that you need this.

3540

0