Photos courtesy of http://www.fiona-apple.com
Fiona Apple at Chicago's Riviera Theatre
The songstress delights with a (surprise!) happy performance
By Dina Zwiebel
Published: December 8th, 2005 | 12:20pm
After a six-year hiatus, Fiona Apple has returned with a sound as juicy as a ripe fruit from the tree that bears her name. Perhaps it was the support she felt from the Free Fiona campaign created by fans to protest the supposedly postponed release of her latest album, Extraordinary Machine. Or maybe it was the extended period of R&R. Either way, as she proved at her packed December 4, 2005, show at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre, Ms. Apple has shed a self-conscious skin or two.
Apple waved as she stepped onto the Christmas-light lit stage in a red kimono-like dress, her long hair streaming down her back. She began the set at the piano with “Get Him Back,” foreshadowing the groove that was to come in the 19-song set. Next up was “Better Version of Me,” one of the songs from Extraordinary Machine that particularly signals Apple’s newfound self-appreciation. At the end of the song, she sang with zest her personal affirmation: “And if you’re right you’ll agree / Here’s coming a better version of me.”
Backed by a dynamic band — including the album’s producer, Mike Elizondo on bass — and phenomenal drummer, Charley Drayton, Apple sang the shit out of some old favorites, including “Shadowboxer” and “Sleep to Dream.” But it was less the fury-ridden Fiona that we’re used to hearing. Instead, when she sang “You don’t have to be so defensive” from “Sleep to Dream” there was pity in her voice for the fool who would dare stand up to her.
The woman who infamously shouted “This world is bullshit” in her 1998 MTV Music Video Awards acceptance speech is now choosing to project her message with optimism versus her signature frustration. However, she still admits to sometimes letting anger get the best of her. She told the Riviera crowd, “I was kicking things last night, saying how much I hate people. Thank you for curing me of that.”
Before launching into “Get Gone” off of 1999’s When the Pawn…, Apple explained, “This next song I wrote when I was sure … I had to leave someone. And then I left — like maybe three years later. So basically it’s bullshit.”
Later, in her solo encore performance of “Parting Gift,” she sang, “They said 'stop' / But we went on whole-hearted — it ended bad / But I love what we started.” I couldn’t help but wonder whether it was her way of coming to terms with that “bullshit” relationship.
A power-driven drum solo began the hyper “Fast As You Can.” Black and white lights flashed, silhouetting Apple’s dancing figure. The quick-paced song highlighted Apple’s ability to spit mad game. It’s no wonder hip-hop artists like the Roots (?uestlove even makes a guest appearance on the new album) appreciate Apple’s talent.
A three-song encore helped to quell the audience’s thirst for more Fiona. The first encore was an acoustic version of Extraordinary Machine’s title song with only voice, upright bass, and acoustic guitar. This was a change from the keyboard-heavy tunes that filled most of the set.
As evidenced in her performance and on her new album, the new Fiona is more upbeat and self-empowered. Extraordinary machine, indeed.
Issue #35
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