"On the heels of summer".......
a review for Ani Difranco.......
June 17,1999

Ani has had many landmarks in her career. The first time she jammed in some Greenwich Village coffee house, Andy's first show, the 1994 tour, the RBR story..........well you get the picture. Tonight marks another landmark in Ani's career (you decide if is good or bad) her first "TRUE" arena show at the Fleet Center.

For those of you thinking "what the hell is the Fleet Center." Well it is the equivalent of your MSG, Auburn Hills, LA Sports, Charolette Coliseum venue. Built in the last 10 years (in most cases) and home to not just shows but proffesional Sports teams as well. Do they lack some of the intimacy of smaller halls to see shows? Yeah, you could say that seeing as these places are built for crowds of 15,000 to 30,000 people!

Well Fleet is about 15,000 and although there was no question I was going, I was not quite sure it would be one of my better Ani shows. My first pleasant surprise was getting into the city and parking. Unlike some GD shows of previous years traffic which I was prepared to handle for 5+ hours, was non existent. We breezed in found great parking. Literally we were from the street to the stage in under 10 minutes, and with all the different places to get from the front door to your seat that is a miracle! It was also our first show attempting" to record, and the man upstairs was beaming...............no search, I can not remember the last time this occured in an arena. Boston security is a overzealous crew to say the least, not bad guys, but a bit different from my Ca. friends, thus they probably would not accept my excuse for the big mike in Joes sock:)

Non existent lines for food. Food a plenty, and microbrew beer, or mixed drinks and wine if you so prefer.

Went right to our seats and who is taking stage but Maceo Parker. Let me tell you, I did not know much about him either, but Ani did, she was not playing games weith her opemning act this summer tour. Maceo is her masterstoke. Like the horns in LPC, her new found frienship with Maceo, could be the beginning to a very exciting period on Ani's career. The man was amazing, his vocals soared, his sax pulsed right through the venue (and it was a big one do not forget) and his flute actually made you dance, and dance we did. What even made this better, was that he shared equally his spotlight with ALL members of the band, who all were spectacular as well. From his son to the background singer whose name I can not remember but soon will be much more familiar with. All were extrodinary from an all out "can I get a witness" to Maceo's sons raps. To Maceo blasting away making you JAM to a mean flute (oops did I mention that! Oh yeah for the curious.....he finished with a 25 minute 'Move your body!" OUT OF BOUNDS.

Make it simple here, go see this tour, no run and see this tour, do not have a show in your towwn , fly. No cash hitch, do not like hitching, walk, get the picture!

A welcome rest this setbreak, I need a break, and judging from some of the movement I saw at the Fleet so did many others. I no sooner walked from my seats to the water fountain than the first notes of "Virtue" came bouncing off the walls. We scampered for our seats but by the time we figured out how to use our MD player and start to record we could hear the song winding down we had it on. Fortunately it was not the end of thhe song, but a chance for MACEO to join the stage and add a nice virtue solo on tenoir sax! Yes it was amazing, short but amazing.. This was their first jam together (another "landmark" let's hope) Hearing Maceo on this makes me think how great Ani would be with a sax added, that is one cool instrument.

At any rate I won't tell you that every tune was her "finest moment" because it was not, that would be a tough bill to fill for anyone, I saw the Dead for many years and everyone was either saying it sucked, or it was the best show ever. I found many shows to be neither. Many shows were just good, or ok. That is not a bad thing either.

The difference that makes Ani a can't miss show is that she never has a terrible show! I can see how the uninitiated would think Jerry was terrible on a particular night, and to be honest on some nights towards the end of his life he most truly WAS terrible. Ani is never terrible, some songs always stand stong in her shows........Here are a couple from this show............

"Cradle and all" was Waynes world we are not worthy, Ani has reworked this over the years and manages to keep the song fresh by forever changing it a bit each time she plays it. Funked out and right in with the feel of the night, thanks Ani.

"Hat shaped Hat" and the way it sneaks in. This is a song I by passed usually, but like many songs, live is a much different story from studio. Not only does it sneak in to the set, but snakes around you and wraps you it it's weirdness. Tonight was a boa constrictor.

"Angry anymore" her most "modern" folk tune for my lack of a better term was perfect as it is every night. Just hoping Ani and Julie do different moves during the jam than the up down thing, it is cool , but it would be cool to see them mix it up with something different.

Here is a weird one, I dug the new encore big time. Was it the best, yeah so far. It was my first time hearing it but this may be a cornerstone to the next albm. This is a really heavy song, it has more ferocity the second time played than both Cloud Blood/Angel and Birmingham have put together, or at least so far that is. Seeing this encore is a major reason for checking out this tour . Though the conglomerate names may need to go (maybe) the message, as well as the playing by Ani..................and her band are polished (and I mean that in a very GOOD way.)

Ani has a really good BAND not just the usual singer and backup people. I was worried that it would go downhill with Andy's departure, but Darren is starting to jam, mixing it up on "not so soft" was the high point of the show for me, it rocked, you forget how cool hand drums are, the groove you can do to them is amzing.The hypnotics and sense of hang out is so much better than a kit for me.

"You had Time" was brilliant. This, "Hell Yeah", "Sorry I am" and "4th of July" should be staples on tour. Not all of them every night, but never left off an entire tour all together. At least a couple audiences should get the privledge of hearing some of the finest from the earlier years.

Again let me say the encore, the first Ani and Maceo live jam, and the Aniisms should make a fine boot for you to enjoy this summer. Get a copy of the show, we taped it but since it was our first and we did not know dog about recording you may not enjoy it as much as us.

I did hear of others who taped the show so I am sure GOOD copies will start to circulate. Just be cool, do not post that stuff on Ebay to sell, If your a fan you know that if she is cool about us recording her, but not us selling her shows to other fans for 30 bucks a pop. If she does not charge us $30.00 to record her she probably does not want us to cut a profit selling that recording. It is eay math , so I will not badger everyone.

Ani played an arena and she pulled it off without the loss of sound, importance or Intimacy!!!

Take the day off and catch a show, As usual (and that is rare these days) Ani is in perfect form. You will love the show, and so will any friend you let discover her.