BeatRoute Magazine B.C. print e-edition - September 2016

Gwen Stefani, Eve
Rogers Arena
August 25, 2016
When I told people I was going to see Gwen Stefani,
they looked at me with pity and confusion
(sweet child, now why would you do something
like that?), and then after considering it for a
photo: Timothy Nguyen
while were like, “actually that would be pretty
cool, it sounds so out it must be in.” Stefani’s
dirty laundry being washed in public recently
hasn’t helped with enticing fans out of the woodwork
of their now late-20s to early-30s adult lives.
Rogers Arena had trouble selling out the venue
and tickets were rumoured to have been given
away at embarrassingly low prices. Once onstage,
Gwen’s opening line to the fans was straight from
the gut and emotional: “Thank you for showing up!”
It was touching and a little sad. She then started
playing songs that once upon a time must have
packed venues from door to door. That’s when
things went from doubtful to shameless fun at the
Gwen Stefani 2016 concert, making it my most
bizarre concert experience ever.
Eve opened the evening and played for a spirited
half-hour with backup dancers doing the best they
could. Stefani’s set list was a third new stuff, a third
solo stuff and a third No Doubt stuff. Her outfits
were not as spectacular as I expected from someone
of her standing. She wore a multitude of Lara Croft
outfits with ‘90s plaid skirts, showing off her Amazon
warrior princess body. The production value of the
show was quite threadbare too; compared to some
of the shows of contemporary artists, even the up
and coming ones, the lights and projections lacked
creativity and detail. Despite all these shortcomings,
Stefani used her biggest weapon to make sure everyone
in the stadium had a great night - her songs!
She sang back-to-back classic winners, “Rich Girl,”
“Hollaback Girl,” “Cool,” “Hella Good,” “It’s My Life,”
“What You Waiting For,” “Harajuku Girls.” Eve came
back onstage for “Blow Your Mind” and the duo
owned the stage, now two Amazon women instead
of one. Her newer songs like “Used To Love You”
didn’t get as excited a reception as her older work,
still they were catchy and one could sway to them
without a problem. It was clear to see that Stefani is
now going down the mildly dance music route to sell
records. That hurts a little since we grew up watching
her break all the rules, fuelled by her glorious pink
hair and bindis. She interacted with fans, pulling
one onstage and politely dodging his sweaty kisses.
Stefani ended the show with “Don’t Speak,” which
caused everyone to lose their voice the next day, I
am sure. Her encore consisted of “Sweet Escape” and
“I’m Just A Girl,” and sent us out into the summer
night with our ‘90s appetites satiated.
It’s hard to see your teen idols grow up, to witness
the end of a musical career. Stefani still has some
fight left in her and a repository of great songwriting.
Her new work lacks her usual fight-the-system, fightthe-man
elements and maybe that’s why it hasn’t
resonated with fans, who love her for it. For this tour
and probably the new album as well, it seems like
her PR team definitely could have done better. This
concert had all the makings of a disaster, but Stefani
turned it around on the pure strength of her
songs, and we as fans got to relive our teen years
and sing our hearts out. We showed up and saved
Gwen Stefani, and she saved us right back.
• Prachi Kamble
Rodriguez
Orpheum Theatre
August 29, 2016
It is impossible to discuss Rodriguez without mentioning
2012’s excellent, Oscar-winning documentary
Searching For Sugarman, and Sixto Rodriguez’
tumultuous career since. After the documentary
won the Oscar in 2013, demand for Rodriguez to play
shows in North America sky rocketed. Unfortunately,
at that time, Rodriguez was suffering health problems
and after receiving mixed reviews for his tour so far
that year, nearly all of his tour dates were cancelled.
Rodriguez re-emerged back in 2015 and Vancouver
was lucky enough for him to grace the stage for us on
a warm August evening in 2016.
This reviewer’s impression of this show is
impossible not to compare to the experience I
had seeing him in 2013, while he was dealing with
his health problems. At that show, Rodriguez sang
the songs beautifully, but his playing was frantic and
although his backing band was excellent, they struggled
to stay on pace – as Rodriguez ignored the drive
of the drums and went on his own time. Occasionally
it would all click and would sound incredible, but
these moments were few and far between.
Fast forward to 2016 and Rodriguez is taking
the stage. This time, alone. I had no idea this show
was going to be a solo acoustic show. It was also
apparent he was still sick, as his two daughters
both supported his arms and shoulders as they
walked him on stage to his seat. None of this
seemed to bother the audience. The second they
got a glimpse of him, the crowd was up on their
feet cheering. So loudly Rodriguez himself asked
everyone to quiet down before he started.
With his music stripped down to just a guitar
and voice, it showcased just how wonderful and
creative a songwriter Rodriguez really is. The
energy and feeling of the songs are completely
timeless and the passion is all still there. While Rodriguez
himself looks frail and his playing would
speed up and slow down, his voice sounded
magnificent and packed full of emotion.
Playing the vast majority of the songs of his two
albums, Cold Fact (1971) and Coming from Reality
(1972), Rodriguez also energized the crowd with
covers from artists including The Rolling Stones,
The Doors, Jefferson Airplane and more. Playing
for around 50 minutes, Rodriguez left the stage
accompanied by his two daughters and it seemed
the show was over. Yet, 5 minutes latter, Rodriguez
walked back on stage and was met with a standing
ovation and rapturous applause. After a 4 song encore,
he left the stage again even though the crowd
wanted more.
It is no small feat for one person with an acoustic
guitar to hold an audience’s attention for nearly 75
minutes. Yet, 74 year old Sixto Rodriguez was able
to do just that. In a stunning and emotional display,
Rodriguez’ raw and stripped down versions
of his now classic songs proved to be the ultimate
way to experience his music.
• Joshua Erickson
photo: Galen Robinson-Exo
September 2016 REVIEWS
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