Tift Merritt / April 11th, 2008 / The Plaza Club / Vancouver, Canada
Country
music singer / songwriter, Tift Merritt and her band performed at Vancouver,
Canada’s Plaza Club on April 11th and the former Grammy Award
nominee from North Carolina (now living in New York City), immediately pumped
up an already stoked crowd with great licks from her guitar. At times
Merritt’s energized performances are reminiscent of reminds one of a young
Carlene Carter. Still, at other times, her songs such as the metaphor-filled
ballad “Broken,” lean as much towards pop as they do country. “Broken,”
offered Merritt’s fans the first opportunity to fully appreciate just how
beautiful a voice she possesses.
Dressed in red dress, wide black belt, high-heeled black suede boots and with her dirty blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, Tift Merritt left everything she had on stage. She poured out sweat, great guitar licks, demonstrated her skill with both the harmonica and the electric keyboard, and did it with enthusiasm and an ever-present smile. The patrons of the Plaza Club easily got their money’s wroth on this evening. As impressive as Merritt is, may an artist’s undoing has come at the hands of a less than capable backup band, however during this concert Merritt’s band only served to enhance her performance, and their numerous guitar, bass guitar and organ solos were met with thunderous cheers from the fans. Tift Merritt surrounded herself with drummer Zeke Hutchins whose heavy sticks laid down a strong foundation for the rest of the rhythm section, which consisted of Scott McCall (electric guitar), Jay Brown (bass guitar) and Danny Eisenberg (keys and organ). On several occasions throughout the evening, Eisenberg captivated the audience with his organ grooves. As Merritt played the electric keys, during “Morning Is My Destination,” a broad smile flashed across her face, as the two musicians fed off each other’s energy.
Merritt has great stage presence and commands her audience’s attention, whether she is sassing a heckler in the crowd or she is ratcheting up the tempo of her music another notch. Her music is loud enough that you certainly do not have to strain to hear it, but at the same time, it is not so loud that so that you cannot clearly hear the lyrics, or so you cannot appreciate the chording of the guitarists.
As has been the case throughout her career, it is Merritt’s skilful songwriting and soulful vocals, which cause her to rise above many of her peers. It is her evocative phrasing or words such as, “The sky is turning and longing for something far away / The moon’s a teardrop, see slowly as it falls away / Miles running down a face / Everything’s bound to change / It’s bound to change,” from her song “Keep You Happy,” which cause you to turn your head.
It was during her appearance on Austin City Limits, in 2006 that I first noticed Tift Merritt and committed her name to memory. I was looking forward with anticipation to reviewing her Vancouver gig and she did not disappoint. Borrowing a bit from something Merritt alludes to on her website, the songs from her CD Another Country, as do most of her songs; act as a postcard for her experiences. Tift Merritt may be a country artist but her vocals are soulful she paints colorful word pictures with her lyrics.
Reviewed by Joe Montague
Top Photo by Roberto D'Este protected by copyright
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Reviewed April 11th, 2008
Riveting Riffs wishes to thank Live Nation for making it possible for us to review this Gig
