The last time that I had the privilege of seeing Natalie Merchant in concert stretches back to June 2010 when she performed at the Helix Theatre in Dublin as part of her Leave Your Sleep album tour. That album was a collection of music adapted from 19th and 20th century British and American poetry about childhood, and highlighted her Folk leanings. She returned to play at the Olympia Theatre in March 2016 as part of her tour to promote a collection of new recordings of the songs from her debut solo album, TIGERLILLY (1995). That was an album that saw her build upon the alternative rock success of 10,000 Maniacs, her breakthrough band, and Tigerlilly saw Natalie deliver a superbly crafted slice of Americana. In the intervening years she has released separate projects, from further original material on her 2014 eponymous album, to the defining box set representing her entire solo output in 2017. The one dominant factor throughout a hugely successful career has been her refusal to ever compromise her artistic vision or to be pigeonholed by the media into a tidy box. Natalie continues to defy music genre constraints and to rise above the need to justify her creative muse.
Tonight, in the beautiful surroundings of the Olympia Theatre, she unveils material from her most recent album, KEEP YOUR COURAGE, which has been released to universal acclaim. The album was recorded during the Covid lockdown and channels themes of courage, hope for the future and the enduring strength of the heart to withstand external pressures. In recent years she has undergone spinal surgery which resulted in the loss of her voice for nine months, together with suffering nerve damage to her right hand which stopped her playing piano. Now fully in remission and beyond the fear of career-ending threats, it’s remarkable to welcome Natalie back onstage and to see her utter joy in being at the centre of her universe again. Always a hypnotic performer, Natalie exudes a level of energy that would be impressive in someone half her age and her voice has never sounded better, such resonance and power interlaced with gentle nuance and sensitive, soulful inflection.
Playing to a packed audience of admirers, Natalie channels a magnetism that spreads a message of loving awareness and steadfast spirit, mirrored in an expression of living for the moment. The set list visits a number of her solo albums in an incredibly generous three hours of performance (with a short interval between two sets). Natalie oversees everything from stage centre as she paces the beautifully lit stage, encouraging heightened performances from her impressive touring band. A string quartet is joined by a subtle rhythm section with expertly judged drum and bass promptings throughout. The guitar and piano add layers of subtlety in the performance dynamic and accordion is also a key instrument in the song interpretations. The orchestral arrangements are richly scored and bring great colour to the melodies of so many superb songs that have been reworked for the current tour.
Natalie dances throughout in that distinctive movement and rhythm that is uniquely hers, building into a hypnotic performance where it is hard to take your eyes away from her spontaneity. She uses her pleated dresses like a matador’s cloak, spinning and swirling as she finds inspiration from the uplifting music. Twenty-three songs are performed, with six selected from both the new album and OPHELIA (1998). Highlights include superb renditions of Ladybird, Wonder, Giving Up Everything and The Feast Of St Valentine. There are so many songs in her catalogue that it’s impossible to suit all requests but Natalie gives everything to the performance of the set list chosen. The concert peaks with stirring versions of Life Is Sweet, Kind And Generous and Carnival. Her cover of a Lankum song, Hunting the Wren is haunting in the delivery and final song The End is in condemnation of the current wars that are tearing our world apart. She raises a peace flag during the song to illustrate her desire for the current craziness to cease and for humanism to serve a higher purpose. A sublime concert in all aspects and one that places Natalie Merchant at the summit of her powers, joyous, moving and thought-provoking. Long may she continue to deliver such succour to our battered hearts and senses.
Review by Paul McGee Photography by Naoise McGee.