Joanna Newsom @ BAM: Inflammatory Wit

I'm in the minority. Over the course of the last four years, I've tried time and time again to enjoy both of Joanna Newsom's critically acclaimed full-lengths (2004's The Milk-Eyed Mender & 2006's Ys). Unfortunately, the so-called magic has failed to satiate my overzealous ears. Due to sheer curiosity and an abundance of rave reviews from Night 1, I decided to attend her second sold out performance at BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House. The evening was broken into two segments: the first half dedicated to Ys (in its entirety, accompanied by The Brooklyn Philharmonic); the latter section split evenly between new tracks and favorites from her debut LP. For nearly three hours, the California-based harpist & vocalist truly stunned the jam-packed auditorium. The arrangements were flawless, her unique (yet divisive) voice was spot-on and her stage banter was beyond charming. While I haven't been transformed into a mega-fan (by a long shot), I can honestly say my distaste has severely dissipated, and I look forward to experiencing Joanna's live show again sometime very soon. Kudos, J - well done! Visit Ms. Newsom at her official site.

(Photo courtesy of Ryan Muir @ Metromix)

MP3: Joanna Newsom - Bridges & Balloons [alt link]