Fiona Apple

Friday night, I got to see Fiona Apple again! She really puts on a good show, although watching her perform makes me feel a little like a voyeur. When she's really into something, I almost feel like I'm interrupting. It's strange. She's both engaging and awkward, but she's genuine (or so it seems), which matters most.

Source: The Plain Dealer

Her band was fantastic, and she seemed to have a nice rapport with them. I wonder if they feel like they're taking care of her? She always seems on the edge of a breakdown. Fiona and band played a ton of songs, although (of course) there were songs I would have loved to hear (Parting Gift and Mistake for starters), but she closed with a cover of Conway Twitty's It's Only Make Believe. The BEST version I've ever heard. It was fantastic and totally made the show.


One thing I really liked was how Fiona played a variety of songs from each of her albums. It wasn't heavy on the new album, and I wouldn't have minded a little more - especially if something could have replaced Carrion, which is one of my least favorite Fiona songs; Slow Like Honey is probably my least favorite. It feels a bit like betrayal to admit there are Fiona songs I don't care for.


Set list: 

• Fast as You Can 
• On the Bound 
• Shadowboxer 
• Paper Bag 
• Anything We Want Get
• Gone Sleep to Dream 
• Extraordinary Machine 
• Werewolf 
• Tymps (The Sick in the Head Song) 
• Daredevil I Know 
• Every Single Night 
• Not About Love 
• Carrion 
• Criminal 
• It’s Only Make Believe (encore)

The show was at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights, and we had kick-ass seats. It's a great venue, although it seems like it's used more with an older crowd. I'd love to go back - when it's not 90+ at 9pm! If I hadn't been so into the show, I could have taken some good pictures or video. 


In any case, Fiona proved again that she is a can't-miss performer - especially because she only does a new album every 6-7 years!