Adam Pascal concert review — Page 3
Posted: 10/6/06 at 9:07pm
Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:19pm
I found the music kind of dull and it was really hard to understand any of the lyrics. Many of the songs sounded almost the same. I thought the burping thing during "Maria" was kind of funny until I heard from my friend who went to his Sunday concert
and said he did the same thing. It is kind of lame for him to ruin a really nice song by burping just to get a laugh. One random accident was funny-this was just icky.
I hated the way he sang "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret-it was like a cheesy lounge singer. He was so over-affected while he sang the song it was laughable.
Larry had a nice voice. I liked how clear it was-he didn't try to sing like a rockstar like Adam does. I liked the fact that I could understand the song and would look foward to hearing Larry sing again
Adam was a really nice guy and a good entertainer for his typical type of audience. I just don't care for the way he sings.
Updated On: 10/13/06 at 08:19 PM
Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:30pm
I loved Maybe This Time. It was one of my favorites that he sang.
I was actually surprised. I have never really heard much of his solo stuff but I actually really enjoyed it. I already love his cd. Book of Endings is a great song.
Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:41pm
Posted: 10/9/06 at 9:12am
Fantab, Emcee, Chloe, and I were all seated together near the front - although I have to say that there isn't a truly bad spot in the entire venue. It's quite cozy, even smaller than Joe's Pub, and was completely sold out. Jesse L. Martin, Michael Greif, Cy O'Neal (cofounder of Friends In Deed), and Larry Edoff's (Adam's pianist) wife were all in the audience. Jesse was immediately swamped with fans before and after the show. I saw Cy hugging Adam after the show and calling him the best singer she's ever heard (or something to that extent).
Adam played his usual setlist, comprised of songs from his solo records, three new songs ("See Me Shining," "A Single Drop of You," and "Just As I Am"), and Broadway showtunes - "Maria," "Maybe This Time," "What I Did for Love," and "One Song Glory." His voice sounded absolutely strong and incredible. I think many believe that his voice is now like it sounds on the Rent movie soundtrack, which couldn't be further from the truth. I'm not sure how to describe the songs themselves, as I'm pretty sure everyone who's set on hearing his current setlist has already heard most of it one way or another. As it's been for months now, Adam played the acoustic guitar and bass, while Larry played the piano and provided backup vocals.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Larry Edoff after the show. He really couldn't be any nicer or more mellow and zen-cool, which was probably a sharp contrast to my excited state. He said he and Adam are pretty much done writing material for the upcoming record, which looks to be about 12 songs. Two of the three new songs they played last night were actually apparently written (both lyrics and music) by Larry, while "See Me Shining" (song for Adam's wife) was more of a collaboration, obviously. Larry also mentioned that on the upcoming album, the lyrics are primarily by Adam while the music is by Larry. Please don't hold me to any of this information, though - I was talking rapidly and Larry could have misunderstood some of my questions. I also met Adam after the show - we were all a bit rushed because the venue was trying to close, but he too was completely sweet.
That's the end of my basic review - on to the anecdotes for some of the more hardcore fans...
Adam initially came on stage with a black suit jacket (which he later removed), a long-sleeve striped button-down shirt, and jeans. He opened with "Beautiful Song," and his introduction to "Book of Endings" was that same dog analogy he's been using for a little while. He said that the song was about the "f*cking internet," and then proceeded to liken "chatrooms" (I think he means message boards?) to a dog he had growing up. Apparently the dog would allow him to pet it for a little while and then suddenly bite, kind of like those who claim to love him and also bash him on the internet. He apparently waited "19 years for the f*cking dog to die," and also mentioned that he doesn't want to look at what people are saying about him, but he's just compelled to do so. He said he saw some guilty faces in the crowd - I hope we weren't too obvious, even if he didn't seem to be looking at us. I should also probably mention that after the "every single one of you haunt me every night" line, he inserted something like "not really, I love you guys!" Oh, Adam. *waves*
Next was "Liken a Razor." He told the story of how he recorded Model Prisoner while teching for Aida, saying that tech week is hell and he was able to release some aggression in the studio. Then came the gorgeous new song for his wife, which is apparently entitled "See Me Shining." Adam said that he'd wanted to write a song for her for a long time, but it took Larry to get it out of him, along with his wife almost throwing him out of the house.
I think I'm losing track of the song order at this point, but he made his usual mention of how he hates West Side Story before singing "Maria." One girl yelled "I like Rent!" after that, and Adam said something like, "I don't care what you like!" Good for him, though - I have to admit that the table at which that girl was sitting was probably the most obnoxious group of girls there. When Larry was introducing his own song, "Love Will Always Come Back," he asked how everyone was doing, and I think one of those girls yelled out "good!" Adam replied with, "It was a rhetorical question." Larry also said that it was his wife's 33rd (yes, he specified) birthday. After his song, Adam said something like, "You're getting some lovin' tonight! Atta boy!" Completely hilarious.
I loved "A Single Drop of You" and "Just As I Am" - even if Larry wrote those songs, I have to say that Adam still sings them with the same intensity as if he wrote them himself. I'm not too fond of the latter as a song, but it really shows off Adam's voice live. "I'm With You" was gorgeous, as always, and "What I Did for Love" is probably my favorite of the showtunes. He introduced it saying that it's a song that's meant a lot to him in his life, and that A Chorus Line is playing on Broadway right now, but he has no idea if it's good - "even if it sucks, it's still an amazing song."
I didn't cover every song, but I'm pretty sure this is long enough as is. I realize I walked into the venue knowing I was going to love the show, but it was everything I expected and more.
Just a few pictures...
Adam minus me.
Updated On: 10/9/06 at 09:12 AM
Posted: 10/9/06 at 10:43am
He was incredible. I probably say this all the time, but I don't think I've ever heard him sound better. Maybe This Time is one of my favorte songs, so I love that he sings it. I wanted to tell him that, but I'm pretty much a solidified mute around him. The new songs are really good, though I'm a little disappointed that Adam may not have written two of the three. He did have a hand in writing the one I like best, though, "See Me Shining." His songwriting has matured a lot. His jokes have gotten dirtier and his sense of humor more... comfortably crass, I guess you could say. Last night really made me remember why he's had such staying power with my inner fangirl; it's been almost seven years since the first time I heard his voice, and I still find him absolutely breathtaking. Performers like him don't come along every day.
Updated On: 10/9/06 at 10:43 AM
Posted: 10/9/06 at 10:53am
Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:00am
Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:31am
Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:44am
Adam looks AMAZING in that picture, siamese. I love the little bit of unbuttoned shirt. Wow.
Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:46am
And yes. Adam, since you apparently frequent message boards, I would like to extend my thanks for leaving your shirt open.
Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:58am
Perfect way of putting it.
Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:07pm
I was also somewhat disappointed to hear that he didn't write two of the three new songs (nothing against Larry, I just thought they showed great strides in his songwriting), but he apparently did write the lyrics for the rest of the soon(?)-to-be-released material, and I'm sure they'll be fab.
Updated On: 10/9/06 at 12:07 PM
Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:10pm
Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:12pm
Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:14pm
ETA: WickedOne, yes, he did the exact same set as the LA shows.
Updated On: 10/9/06 at 12:14 PM
Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:18pm
That's...really all that I have to add. Glad you guys had fun.
Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:29pm
Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:18pm
I think the upcoming record will be amazing as it will hopefully be more stripped down with just his voice, piano and guitar.
And to note, last night was my first time seeing Adam in concert and I feel in love with the live versions of all the songs off his records...
Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:21pm
Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:29pm
Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:33pm
When I said I was torn over Adam's collaboration with Larry earlier, I was referring specifically to Adam apparently writing almost exclusively lyrics while Larry writes the music. Like I said, I don't even have a legitimate reason why I feel this way, considering Larry is probably a better musical composer than Adam anyway. Maybe I'm not as attached to the days when Adam had a full band because I wasn't around then, but I'm glad he's trying the stripped-down route now.
Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:49pm
Posted: 10/9/06 at 5:01pm
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