Cyndi Lauper - Nashville, TN - Ryman - May 9, 2016
Whenever my birthday occurs I like to celebrate for an entire week straight. As luck would have it, Charles Kelley, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, and Cyndi Lauper would all have shows in Nashville during this period. Usually I try to skip out of town and wallow in my impeding demise (turning thirty isn't going to go well) someplace fancy and new. However this year, none of my tier one favorites were giving shows on my birthday at all. That's right, they all let me down. My birthday also happened to be on a Wednesday, which really put a damper in the plan. I only get ten vacation days a year, so it's basically a rule that they all be used for some sort of concert trip. I'm planning on writing reviews for all the shows, but Cyndi's show sticks out in my head, so it's first.
Monday night shows are always iffy. It's close enough to the weekend that you can guarantee tourists will be the majority of the crowd now (Thanks "Nashville"). Sometimes this results in more casual fans and music lovers versus a show of die-hard fans. The obsessed fan shows are always my favorites because everyone cuts loose more. You see, shows are the one place I allow myself to shift from being a Charlotte/Miranda type to a Samantha/Carrie hybrid. Oh yes, I did just reference Sex and the City. I love having new outfits and getting dressed up for the shows. I rock out and am not ashamed of it.
That brings me to Cyndi's show. Still with me? I managed to snag a face value seat on the aisle in the second row among all the people who had paid I think around $400 for a VIP experience package. I figured they'd all be super-fans and we'd all freak out with every little thing together. Well almost. Next to me were tourists and what I'd classify as casual fans in front of me. It's happened before, so I am quite accustomed to rocking out alone. I still had my lovely air boot from my Achilles injury (see separate blog on that one...oh yes I did it at a show too), so I had to take it easy anyway. Doctors orders.
Prior to this show, I'd only seen Cyndi open up for Cher twice. She was so much better! I'm not sure if it's because she knew we were "her people" or the size of the venue. I love that her music has been given just enough of a modern twist to sound great while still not trying to act like it's full of 80's glory. I thought the set list flowed quite well, as the hits were mixed in with the new stuff from her current album "Detour". I wouldn't have wanted to see the country songs from the new album performed anywhere else but the Ryman actually. She took those songs and has made them fun and so fitting for her voice. I think I had forgotten what an incredible range she had. It seemed as though just about every song got a full introduction by Cyndi and a story. This annoys some people, but I loved it. Knowing the history behind the songs or cute antidotes about them is the icing on the cake for me. I came to the show for the performers personality, not just the music after all. I will definitely see Cyndi again if she comes back. She's worth it for the stories alone.
Show highlights:
-She dedicated "When You Were Mine" to Prince and it was especially touching and dramatic.
-"Money Changes Everything" was especially rocking. I couldn't control my head bobbing.
-All the instruments she played. The recorder, dulcimer, etc. Major props for that.
-"Misty Blue" was sung into a pay phone. That's right a pay phone. It actually worked too. What a cool idea for a microphone.
-Her costume was a brilliant mix of rock and country attire. Flannel printed chiffon over leather with a bustle type set up. Her footwear choice was a pair of black combat boots. So fierce.
Other things:
-It was the opening night of the tour and showed. There were lighting and sound issues. Cyndi had to yell at those in charge of this several times and apologize for the opening night quirks. It was extra amazing that the pay phone mic worked.
-No pictures!! This is uber annoying to me. I just wanted one! Before the show the guards yelled at the first three rows and said absolutely no pictures. Apparently Cyndi is so against them being taken close that she'll stop the show to yell at the offender. I sat there during the show thinking of all the amazing shots I was missing out on.
-Cyndi's money gun basically threw up all over the stage. So she picked up the bucks and threw them into the crowd. One landed on my face, but I happily grabbed it. What a cool touch. Cher used to do this at her Vegas shows too.
