Concert Review: Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple – Ives Concert Park, Danbury, Connecticut June 29, 2012

First of all, this was one of the most complicated venues to find. It is not clear at all how to get there, and I am not just saying that from my end. We arrived late – and I mean very late. Probably the greater part of an hour had passed since the concert was slated to start when we finally arrived at the parking lot, which had many empty spaces (they were not empty by the time the concert got out, maybe an hour and a half later, or so).

When we finally got there, I was a bit relieved to find that we were hardly the only ones confused with the venue and the directions. The staff assembled leading up to the parking areas were hardly helpful, for that matter. There were groups of them, and as you drove up to the parking area, they seemed more annoyed to be disturbed even for a second to point the direction, than to break up the little social circles that they evidently formed into. Since this was at a college campus setting, it seemed that better directions once we were actually on the campus could have helped. A lot of people seemed confused, and it was hardly clear where exactly we were supposed to go.

Once we actually got closer to the concert, however, the staff seemed much friendlier and welcoming, even. That was fitting, since this concert setting, set on a grassy expanse near an idyllic and illuminated fountain, was not overwhelming, and allowed for a fairly intimate feel.

Fortunately, also, the concert that was officially scheduled to begin at 8pm actually started at 9pm. I am guessing here that the reason for that may actually have been that they are used to people getting lost along the way, having a difficult time in finding the place while behind the wheel, and then enduring some complications in finding the actual concert venue once you are on campus and park. It really is not self-explanatory, and there were a lot of confused people looking for the show.

We did happen to go through a bit of downtown Danbury, which seems actually pretty interesting, and with a quaint, old New England kind of a feel to it. Had we not been so pressed for time, maybe it could have offered an opportunity to stretch our legs and visit the place. As it were, we just wanted to get to the venue.

Anyway, Fiona finally came out, and ripped right into "Fast As You Can", as the excited crowd got their first chance to cheer. This was such a relaxed setting for a concert, though, that perhaps it was quieter than expected, and Fiona herself seemed to take notice, asking during a short break in between songs if we were all okay. There were people that looked like they had spent the day in the park, blankets stretched out and conversing, people playing ball and stuff like that with glow in the dark balls. It felt like they were enjoying a leisurely evening at a park, perhaps awaiting a fireworks show, than at a rock concert. Yet, it had a pleasant ambience, overall. I cannot remember the last time being at such a relaxed, easy going concert setting.

As for Fiona herself, she seemed fairly energetic, ripping through some older songs to open up, and playing her first from the new album five songs in, with "Anything We Want". Each song was given a different interpretation than the studio album sound, often with distortions or some interesting twist, which is of course what makes seeing concerts unique.

She seemed quite energetic, and kept moving between the microphone stand to do some singing, and then to the grand piano, her specialty. One surprising thing was the lack of much interaction with the audience. There really only seemed to be a couple of times when she spoke, musing about forgetting right in the middle of a song, and that she was making her Alzheimer's funny. No interesting or funny stories behind any of the songs, and no real introductions to any of the songs whatsoever. No talk about how the tour was going, no introduction of other band members, or talk of anything going on in the world outside or perhaps in her life. No talk of any possible upcoming projects or anything.  Virtually no talk of anything outside of the music itself, when she obviously had to sing the lyrics.

Fiona has always had an interesting style, unique to herself. She was sometimes lumped in with the alternative scene, but that never really fit. In fact, her music has many elements to it, and it would be hard to peg her into strictly one category or another. In many respects, her music is almost a throwback to a much older style that was popular many decades ago. Yet, she is able to make it work, and it sounded good, overall. The more relaxed setting for it suited her, as well.

The biggest reaction seemed to come with the older songs, particularly "Sleep to Dream", and of course her biggest hit, "Criminal", which came just at the end, before the encore.

The encore itself was surprisingly short: only one song, "It's Only Make Believe".

Still, all in all, a good concert, and Fiona Apple delivers on her musical talent to those of her devoted fans. Remember, these fans actually protested the record company's actions when it was believed that they were shelving her music, with a "Free Fiona Apple" campaign. There's even a website by the same name: www.freefiona.com

If you're one of those devoted Fiona Apple fans, of course it will be a good concert in which she delivers. You won't be disappointed.

Below is the set list for the show:

Set List:

Fast As You Can

On the Bound

Shadowboxer

Paper Bag

Anything We Want

Get Gone

Sleep to Dream

Extraordinary Machine

Werewolf

Tymps

Daredevil

I Know

Every Single Night

Not About Love

Carrion

Criminal

Encore:

It's Only Make Believe