Ani returned to the Hillsdale folk festival Saturday for the first time
since 1995 and played a decent set for about 5,000 heat exhausted fans.
The festival saw mostly bright sunny skies all weekend though the
temerature and humidity were something straight out of Dante's
inferno!!Ani was the last one to play on the big night of Saturday. Cry,
cry,cry did a fine job of not playing second fiddle to Ani. They played a
collection of old and new folk cover tunes, and a lil old Johnny Cash too!
Their cd is out in stores and I did myself a favor and picked it up as soon
as I got back home and you should too.
Ani played this show without her band, for me it was the first time
I had seen this. I was thinking that she would pull a few nuggets out of the
chest for this, and she did just not as many as I had hoped. I will say
this though, the songs even though standard take on a new meaning when
played the way they were intended (IMO)
Not as many college age girls at this one either, the older folks
were a bit more reserved and thus I got a show taped with only one or two "
I love you Ani's" on it!!!! The scene was totally laid back as folk
festivals should be, and I am glad she still plays these and should continue
to do so.
Ani took stage about 11 PM she opened with "Fuel" which was so-so
considering her ovation. "Angry Anymore" was ok as was "UP" Things got
smoking real quick with a killer "Cradle and all" played in all it's NAPG
glory . This version is to be tracked down as is the "Coming up" that
preceded it and the "NAPG" that followed. Thank god she still knows how
good this song is the way it was originally done, instead of that junk
version the band plays now.
"Birmingham" finally found a place in my heart. I said it probably
needed a small veneue to work right . Well it found a home at Hillsdale.
Ani also brought back "If he tries anything" complete with her VH1
Storyteller bridge. I am happy to have this one back and hope it sticks
around. "Shy" was a surprise as I did not think it would make a show like
this, none the less Shy never disappoints. The two songs I did not
recognize was for obvious reasons (one was unreleased and one was brand
spanking knew, it may be called "Back of your mind".)"Shameless" closed the
main part of the show, it was my first one so I am not one to ask since it
was my first one live and I love this song, my opinion may be skewed.
"To the teeth" was the expected encore, it was ok. The scene as
much as the performance made this show one of the greats. And oh yes that
wonderful woman from who we met at the Minneapolis show, made the trek east
for Hillsdale and has extended the weekend stay a bit longer. (major life
changes are developing by leaps and bounds!!!) Enough of things you do not
care about though. If you have the opportunity check out next years
Hillsdale festival. It is as legit as they come and that is rare these
days.
Matt Crowley