patti smith reviews

Patti Smith Words and Music (Byham Theater, PA 9/28/02)
By Ray Beiersdorfer

As part of the celebration surrounding the opening of Strange Messenger The Work of Patti Smith at the Warhol Museum, Patti and her band gave an acoustic performance of songs and poetry. The performance was bracketed by "Les Nuits d'Ete" beginning with a recording of Eleanor Steber singing the opera song while images of smoke and dust from the World Trade Center projected in time lapse on the large rear projection screen behind the band¹s set-up. The show ended with Patti reading a poem called "Les Nuits dEte" followed by a song. After the WTC film, Patti came out and told us it was created by Jen Choening (sp?) an independent film maker and announced the song. Patti wore black slacks, a long sleeved white shirt with skinny black tie, loosely knotted, and a black suit jacket. An image of Bev as a young woman filled the screen and Patti told the crowd of her mom¹s passing on September 19th, which she called a "beautiful passing." She then said that Oliver Ray¹s sister gave birth to a son on September 25th and now she had her opening at the Warhol. "We¹ve had death, life and art all in the past ten days" Patti read a poem about Bev that started "Golden Mother, Mother of Gold" She talked about being friend of Andy Warhol and shared a little know fact about Andy, "Andy loved the song "Didn¹t I Blow Your Mind" by the Delphonics. He used to get me to sing it over and over." Patti talked about art and the first time she saw art in person, on a trip to an art museum in Philadelphia, with her Dad, when she was 12 years old. It was then that she knew she was going to be an artist. Her Mom was very supportive, searching out remainder bins to find art books for Patti. Her father was more concerned with Patti¹s lack of "fine draftsmanship." She said that her mother¹s confidence in her has helped her find confidence in herself throughout her life.

Sometime during this part of the performance, the band walked on stage to take seats: Oliver Ray on the far left, Tony Shanahan on the near left, Lenny Kaye on the right and Jay Dee Daugherty behind the drum kit in the center. Jay Dee looked okay in regards to his recovery from the motorcycle accident. The first song was a cover of the Velvet¹s Pale Blue Eyes. Patti and Lenny shared lead vocals. The song was a little slower that the Velvet¹s version and sounded beautiful. All the songs included a computer-generated psychedelic visual show on the large screen, which in most cases, added to the performance. Beneath the Southern Cross and Redondo Beach followed. Wave was performed in commemoration of the anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul I, Patti¹s favorite pope, who died after 60 days as pope. When I first listened to that song as a bonus track in the CD boxed-set, I though it was referring to a movie star. Now looking back at the lyrics in "Complete" I saw the picture of the pope. When I think of Pope John Paul I¹s death I always remember the day after. I was standing on line to register for classes at Queens College and my friend Marty speculated if the next pope will be called Pope George Ringo.

Wing was, well "it was beautiful." Boy Cried Wolf was dedicated to John Walker Lindh and Grateful featured graphics based around Jerry Garcia¹s smiling. Patti read "Twin Death" from the Warhol Museum¹s show catalogue of Strange Messenger. Ghost Dance and Frederick were next. Patti was full of joy and smiles when she sang Frederick and that song garnered the loudest ovation of the night. Patti then introduced and read The Divine Image a poem by William Blake. Strange Messengers included Patti reading from Abe Lincoln¹s second inaugural address. Afterwards she mentioned the speech was from a book called Lincoln¹s greatest speech that, while it seems academic, actually makes great bathroom reading. She suggested we all look for it in the remainder bins. She introduced Wild Leaves as a song she wrote to celebrate Robert Mapplethorpe's 40th birthday and she spilled small red petals on the stage near the end of the song. The main part of the show ended with Dancing Barefoot. Patti kept on her shoes and socks.

The encore consisted of Patti reading from Les Nuits d'Ete, an original poem included in the Warhol Museum¹s show catalogue. She then mentioned an exhibit of 50¹s culture showing at the Warhol Museum and said in commemoration of the 50¹s they would finish the show with Tony Shanahan singing Love Me (a song made famous by Elvis Presley). Tony mentioned how he sang this for Bev on her birthday. Another standing ovation but unfortunately the house lights came on.

The Warhol Museum had a table set up in the lobby. After the show I bought a CD of The Patti Smith Group performing a song called Walker (poor fellah) at the Bowery Ballroom, NYC on 12/31/01 from Patti¹s road manager for $10, grabbed a few free posters of the Warhol Museum show and two signed copies of the show catalogue for $20 each. The museum was also selling Michael Stipes photo book for $10, half the list price.

Susie and I loved the show. My eleven year old twin daughters were pretty neutral. They would have preferred an electric show. Patti mentioned that, like my daughters, "Bev would not have approved of tonight's performance. She preferred the electric stuff." Because they are my two favorite artists I've always attached more meaning to connections between Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen. The first time I saw Bruce at the Palladium in NYC in 1975, Patti danced on stage. When I saw Patti (for the eighth or ninth time ) at the bottom line that November Bruce joined her for two songs. The "Because the Night" connection is obvious. The World Trade Center destruction was very much a large part of Patti's performance in Pittsburgh as it is very much a large part of "The Rising" and Bruce's current tour. The Patti Smith Group's acoustic performance reminded me of Bruce's solo acoustic tour in support of his "The Ghost of Tom Joad" album. Again I've always attached too much meaning to connections between Bruce and Patti.

Photo Arista promotional