Teaching Us About XTC
Without the accompanying pictures, there would be no way to adequately describe the energy and fun that is seeing The Pipettes. Indeed, without pictures of those three gorgeous gals, I'd say stop reading, put on their album, and just stare at the jacket photograph. Otherwise, you'd just be missing a vital piece of the performance.
I didn't learn that the originally-scheduled concert was cancelled until the day-of. I hadn't been to the Paradise since last Spring, and I was eagerly anticipating a return, and what promised to be such a fantastic show. As it turned out, I saw the cancellation on their website, and despondently cancelled my own plans.
My despondency was finally redeemed tonight. What luck, as it turns out, that the show was moved to Great Scott. Though dancing and rocking along at the Paradise would certainly have been fun (and undoubtedly enhanced by memories of necking on the second level at junior prom) the intimacy of Great Scott really made this show.
I knew from pictures that Gwenno had gone from blonde to red, Riotbecki's formerly straight locks had gotten a little teased-out and looser, and that all three were sporting new threads. As a traditionalist, I was initially disappointed. Then they showed up on stage, and it's hard to stay mad at this trio. In fact, the changes work; they help differentiate the individuals (Gwenno, Riotbecki, Rosay), who, with all of their trading places and vocal parts, can sometimes be melded, especially by those who are relatively new to the group.
What is particularly striking about The Pipettes is their theatre: they sell every single moment that they're on. When Rosay muscles her way to the front of the stage in "Why Did You Stay?" and growls, "Well I've had just about enough of sweet," nice guys throughout the room make mental notes. After Gwenno intones the final few lyrics of It Hurts To See You Dance So Well ("Two o'clock on the dance floor, and I'm going home alone"), Riotbecki says, matter-of-factly, "Well it really hurts." And you absolutely believe her; even if you're without such an experience, you empathize. And when Gwenno discusses the problems of long-term relationships before rocking into a surprisingly flirty "Guess Who 'Run' Off With The Milkman," you end up reflecting on your own relationship woes. At least until they get the next number going, and you're present again.
Great Scott is, as noted above, intimate, which is certainly a euphemism for "cramped," both near the stage and on it. Nonetheless, The Pipettes made the most of the truncated stage with their 1960s-style choreography and general prancing around. Behind them, an incredibly tight "The Cassette," a four-piece, all male rock & roll combo, rock and roll. They don't really interact with the crowd, as we are mesmerized by the ladies at the front of the stage. As such, The Cassette are afforded the rare opportunity to play to each other, facing in towards the drummer and building off of each others' energy.
This was an incredibly good show: twenty-one (21!) songs, high energy, comfortable chatting and flirting with the crowd, and fantastic voices all combined for one hell of a Thursday night.
The Pipettes Set List
1. Dance n' Boogie -->
2. Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me
3. Because It's Not Love (But It's Still A Feeling)
4. Baby Don't Leave Me
5. Tell Me What You Want
6. It Hurts To See You Dance So Well
7. Don't Forget Me *new
8. Guess Who Ran Off With The Milkman (though Gwenno absolutely says "run off" in her fantastic Welsh accent)
9. Your Love For Me
10. Why Did You Stay?
11. Sex (and they sang the SHIT out of this)
12. The Burning Ambition Of The Early Diuretics
13. Really That Bad?
14. I Love You
15. True Love Waits (and the wicked gleam in Gwenno's eyes when singing about a guy being good with his hands was almost too much to take)
16. Judy
17. One Night Stand
18. Dirty Mind (See No. 11)
19. Pull Shapes
Encore1. ABC
Encore2. We Are The Pipettes
*** I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of the opening groups: Nicole Atkins and the Sea. Check this lady out; she has a couple of videos on YouTube. I'm particularly fond of "The Way It Is." Additionally, there is a free podcast available on iTunes of her "Neptune City" video, at much, much higher-quality than what is available on YouTube.
She sometimes sounds like Judy Garland, sometimes like Rufus Wainwright, and with the full sound that her band puts out and Nicole's plaintive, sensual vocalizing, you'll definitely be reminded of another Asbury Park-area native. She said she'd be back through Boston in February. We certainly plan to be there.
Check it: The Pipettes (official) / The Pipettes (myspace)
Check it: Nicole Atkins (official) / Nicole Atkins and the Sea (myspace)
Check it: Monster Bobby (myspace)
