Friday, December 6
Better than: Having a My So-Called Life marathon at home.
At some point early in Juliana Hatfield's set last Friday, a guy near me observed: "This is so '90s it hurts." It was a true statement on every level.
As Hatfield strummed alone on stage, in a clingy, leopard-print gown, for a little while, it felt like the Record Bar had been transformed into something else -- an indie coffee shop 15 years ago? Or maybe the set of My So-Called Life, except with 30-somethings instead of teenagers. (Obviously, much of the crowd gathered at Record Bar remembered the days when My So-Called Life was still in production. Several folks issued excited shouts when Hatfiled announced that because it's Christmastime, she'd do the holiday number she once performed on that show.)
For her own part, at 41, Hatfield still has a girlish look, with her
long, strawberry blond tresses and waif-like frame.
She's got a girlish quaver in her voice, too, when she delivers such
stinging lines as "I finally wised up, but the fact remains that I
stayed too long."
Lyrics
like that were all too clear on Friday night, during Hatfield's mostly
solo set. She held down the show with just her guitar for the first 14
songs before calling a couple dudes from opener the Everyday Visuals to
help out on bass and drums. The extra musical power and the company
helped Hatfield open up a little more.
With the boys backing her, she
was more talkative with the crowd, telling about her day in Kansas
City, which included a gift of more than $100 in magazines from a kind
stranger. "I don't have a very good memory," Hatfield said. But KC
should stick out in her mind as a good place for a while.
The anecdotes provided necessary relief from the emotional
intensity of Hatfield's songs. Whether from this decade or last,
Hatfield's writing cuts to the quick, whether she's reflecting on
personal mistakes or describing the death of a relationship.
Critic's Notebook
Personal Bias: Until last week, I couldn't have named a single Hatfield song, except maybe "My Sister." And even that I thought was by Liz Phair.
Random Detail: If you're broken-hearted, a Hatfield concert is a good place to go if you want to hear music that will make you cry.
By the Way: For more of Hatfield's soul-shaking turns of phrase, check out the blog she wrote after being treated for anorexia last month.
-- Crystal K. Wiebe
Comments (0)