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| Melissa Etheridge @ the Marin County Fair (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
A huge crowd turned out at Marin Civic Center Park for Melissa Etheridge’s Fourth of July concert at the Marin County Fair and she delivered early fireworks with a hits-filled 90-minute set and banter that connected with the area and the occasion.
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| The crowd @ the Marin County Fair (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Tuesday brought a crystal-clear day in San Rafael where temperatures managed to remain reasonable despite the well-publicized heat wave that hit most of the area. By the time Etheridge took the stage promptly at the 7:30 start time, temperatures were in the lower 70’s. 'We might have the most perfect weather in the whole world right here, right now,' Etheridge told the huge crowd after delivering an energetic opener of “All-American Girl.” The crowd not only filled the traditional jumbo performance tent on the lagoon’s island and standing room space, but also spilled out to be more than a dozen deep around a secondary viewing screen and multiple people deep around the entire lagoon.
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| Melissa Etheridge @ the Marin County Fair (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Sticking to the hits after expressing gratitude and joy for the day’s location, timing and crowd, she launched her tight band into “If I Wanted To.” “Royal Station 4/16” – a bit more obscure number that she referred to as 'our train song.' As she struggled with her hat trying to put a harmonica on, she joked with the crowd, “I swear we are professionals” and then demonstrated those professional chops with excellent harmonica and guitar solos.
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| Melissa Etheridge @ the Marin County Fair (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“I want to come over” sent the crowd to their feet with dancing in the aisles and some of the younger attendees jumping high into the air. As the sun began to set and the midway’s lights began to take affect, she introduced “All the Way to Heaven” by saying 'This song is about keeping true to your goals, but remembering it’s the time getting to them that’s the fun part.' The song – pulled especially for the night featured the highly relevant lyrics:
I want to find me a carnivalOutside of town
A tilt-a-whirl set up
With a merry-go-round
Cotton candy fingers
And a snow cone mouth
I want to roll you in sawdust
Till they run us both out
All the way to heaven
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| Melissa Etheridge @ the Marin County Fair (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Etheridge shared that she’s doing a one woman show in New York City on Broadway that will run from September to December, called My Window. She then sang an extremely playful cover of George Benson’s “On Broadway” with a heavy, funky wah applied to her guitar. “Must Be Crazy for Me” was an appropriate follow-up with a heavy R & B vibe where Etheridge provide an opportunity to solo for each of her supporting band (bassist Joe Ayoub of the American Idol House Band, drummer Eric Gardner and keyboardist/guitarist Max Hart). Etheridge led a singalong that started loud, went down to a whisper and then roared to a bombastic crescendo supported by her tight band.
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| Joe Ayoub @ the Marin County Fair (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Etheridge engaged in a long 12-string guitar intro into “Chrome Plated Heart” as dusk took full effect. She showed the same high level of facial audience engagement she has always maintained (my first Etheridge show was at the Santa Barbara County Bowl in 1990). She shot sly side glances, wide open smiles with an occasional mugging for the crowd thrown in to keep a loose feel to the very tight musical precision. She has aways been someone who gives love to her audience and seems to lean deeply into the love the audiences return to her.
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| The Marin County Fair (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
By this point in the 90-minute set, we had reached the closing drive of big hits and Etheridge delivered four whoppers. “Come to My Window” was introduced with a sparse solo 12-string guitar that allowed it to sneak up on the audience. Once recognized, the audience again jumped to their feet en masse – never to return to their seats. The audience all sang along and much like so many Tom Petty live songs, everyone seemed to sing the lead along with Etheridge. A rousing “Bring Me Some Water” followed as probably Etheridge’s highest paced, hardest rocker of the night.
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| The crowd @ the Marin County Fair (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Before going into “I’m the Only One”, Etheridge told the crowd that she hoped everyone 'ate some weird food and was bringing something unique home that is of no use.' She implored the crowd to 'Spread the peace and choose only love' and then led one of her biggest hits to a huge ending to rapturous applause that echoed and reverberated around the lagoon. She and the band then returned to deliver “Like The Way I Do” with a slow acoustic guitar intro building to the song’s explosiveness and setting a sonic precursor for the fireworks to follow shortly thereafter.
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