Sun 21 Sep – Goldfrapp, Jaymay

I don't really know what happened to her for her to revert back to her first album style. Was she returning to her roots? Was she just trying stuff out? Did she feel like she sold out for her middle two albums? I've seen clips of her concerts past where she did the whole dramatic, sexy, dark lighting and used all of the sexy chicks in bikinis with animal heads. That's what I half expected for this show. But then Seventh Tree was very ... autumn.

The other half of me expected a simpler show. And that's what she delivered. Down to her costume. Instead of fuckme boots and a horse hair ponytail hanging from her knickers, she just wore a little harlequin pajama thingy. Barefoot.

The show was distilled down to raw elements like that. Her musicians were in nondescript white polos and frocks. The lighting and stage props weren't elaborate or gaudy or even busy.

Her supporting musicians played keyboard, keytar!, electric guitar, bass, drum kit, and harp. Oh, and violin. Dude, the violinist had pedals! I never thought about applying pedals to a violin, but why not, right? Brilliant.

She did a lot of songs off Seventh Tree, the new album, which was to be expected. But is it just me, or did the old hook-y songs like "Train" sound obligatory?

Some of the songs from her set (in no particular order): "Utopia" (amazing live), "Train," "You Never Know," "Ooh La La," "Paper Bag," "Number 1," "Clowns," "Little Bird," "Cologne Cerrone Houdini," and "Satin Chic." Three songs for her encore, including "Strict Machine." Of course.

She even whipped out her "lovely stick" for "Train." That was hot. But still, seemed like an obligatory thing to please the crowd.

The live adaptations were almost perfectly true to original recordings. Which I can appreciate. Some songs didn't seem basey enough though. That's just me. I love bass.

When she did the songs where she had to do falsetto or operatic things, she nailed 'em. Her performing voice was just as quality as recorded sound. Some of the notes she hit were just incredible and gave me goosebumps.

After the second (or first?) song, she gracefully strutted off stage for a second, I'm pretty sure to tell her sound guys to turn up her mic.

Her dancing and prancing around was great. She did like this marching in place thing, sometimes surrendering her body to the music and flopping around. So cute.

At the end of her show and encore, she gave many gracious thanks to the audience and acknowledged her musicians.

The Orpheum was such a great place to see Goldfrapp. Beautiful and refined, just as Alison is. Its not a way huge venue and I'm surprised she didn't sell out. It was quite easy to get tickets close to the concert date.

The lighting was okay. Sometimes warm on the performers, cool on the stage and otherwise set apppropriate ambiance per song. They projected animated texture, sometimes kaleidoscope images on the wall behind them. The sound was mixed well and not retarded loud.

Encores are overrated and outdated.