26 September 2009 - The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA

[nil_by_mouth]

Same set list as Santa Cruz and Sacramento - I would imagine it'll be like this for much if not all of the tour....

HopeSandoval_Fillmore.JPG (221.56 KiB) Viewed 3071 times

[depwoods]

My wife and I were at the show last night at the Fillmore and loved the music but were flabbergasted by the refusal of Hope to allow herself to be illuminated in any realistic way. It was immensely disappointing not to be able to see her play and sing. We came expecting a truly special evening. We both love her music and couldn't wait to see her perform live for the first time. At first I thought it was part of some theatrical Grand Design, that at some special moment, she would finally reveal herself. But no. One song slid into another and nothing changed. When Hope experienced some sound troubles with the mic at the glockenspiel, she stopped the show and even interacted briefly with the audience, acknowledging that we were there. But still she remained in darkness, a silhouette, but nothing more. All night long, when fans implored her to turn on some light, she replied, "I can't hear you," or, "We can't hear you." It was very strange and sort of disheartening too. In this economy, making a decision to attend a concert is not one that's made so easily. For us, last night involved paying for a sitter, parking in SF, the tickets themselves, and a few $8.00-plus beers at the Fillmore. We honor the artist by spending our money and making the time to see the artist perform. If I wanted to play Hope's music in the dark, I can just as easily, and far more cheaply, do it in my own home. Going to see the artist with the expectation of experiencing the music live, is qualitatively, a different experience. And last night, sad to say, I think Hope refused to honor us, her fans, by acknowledging that distinction and that expectation. If it is an artistic decision, I believe it to be a very selfish one. By sharing so little on-stage, she makes me wonder why I should care too. I am sure that she, like any performing artist, understands that when you tour, the implicit understanding is that you are performing live so that you can be seen and heard, and not just heard. And, just so you know where I am coming from, as a San Franciscan, I also have a great deal of respect for the Fillmore. It is a sacred space when it comes to music. I believe that the other members of the band fully understood that. They played magnificently, with Hope and without her when they played their own set. During their own set, they were visible to the audience. During Hope's set, lights and imagery were projected on a screen at the rear of the stage. But no frontal lighting was used, keeping Hope and the band in darkness. If the argument might be made that the lights and imagery backlighting the band was sufficient, I would say, no, it wasn't. And having seen more bands and artists than I can really count at the Fillmore, and, in particular, psychedelic light shows going back to the early daze of The Dead, the Airplane and Pink Floyd, if that was going to be the main source of our visual attention, it wasn't enough. Hope is the artist, the focus of attention, the star. Hope was the reason for our attendance and our attention last night. And based on how she appeared, or in truth, didn't appear, it felt like she didn't want us to be there. Or that it really didn't matter to her. Take your pick. I still don't have the vaguest idea, and I know she is shy, but she has performed live many times. Heck! She even appeared on Letterman. A little light so that fans could see her is not something unique or alien to her experience. At the end of "Suzanne," we decided that, as much as we loved her music, we would rather spend our time with an artist who wanted us to see them perform, so we walked out and down Fillmore Street a half-block to a sweet little piano jazz and blues club called Sheba and ended our night watching some great singer we'd never heard before sing the blues. Happy that we were there to watch and listen. And us, happy to see and listen to someone who wanted to be seen and heard by her. Honestly, I think Hope and the band owe the fans who paid good money with the expectation of seeing them perform an apology, a make-up concert, or a refund. Any of those actions would change the sad feeling I have now. A feeling I have from the only concert I have ever been to in my life -- and I've been to a lot -- where the artist refused to be there too.

[StudioA]

It is unfortunate that Hope is so deathly afraid of playing live on stage (as many times as she's done it). She's said that it never gets any easier for her. This is probably the main reason why she takes such long breaks in between album/song releases, because she dreads having to perform live after/during the releases. But, this is just my speculation.

I do understand where you're coming from though, you'd at least like to see some signs of life while she's singing. So the question remains, is it at least worth it to hear her perform live (even just once) in the dark or never see her live at all?

I've never been to her show, but will take all of this into consideration going into the upcoming show(s) i'm planning on attending.

Thanks for the helpful insight.

[nil_by_mouth]

What a shame to undermine some well made points with that sense of entitlement.

When a performer performs, there is an invitaion to attend - it's a choice, on the fan's behalf, whether or not attend. That includes the headaches and expenses associated with it. Of course, I undertand that you probably would have been very happy with the evening had there been appropriate lighting. I agree, it was dark. But to expect a refund or an apology is ridiculous.

It would have been nice if it was brighter, but some of use enjoyed the show and it wasn't an issue for us. We all have out opinions. She is an odd character, of that there is no question - it doesn't mean she owes you something because it wasn't to your liking.

[depwoods]

I agree. I don't expect an apology, a refund, or anything else. But I would hope that she consider her role in the relationship between what she expects out of her audience, such as no photographs and a respectful silence, and what we, in turn expect from her, such as the simple ability to see her perform live, with the emphasis here on the word, "see." That is, after all, why I bought my tickets and why, I would guess, most other fans bought their tickets.

[Believer]

I have to agree with Depwoods. I was at the show too and it was totally dark onstage. Barely a silouette. The voice was awesome but at a concert most people expect to see the artist. When Hope was with Mazzy Star she as least had a purple light on her and that was enough, but this show in total darkness wasn't right. When Hope said "I can't hear you" people in the audience yelled "well we can't see you" and MANY others shouted "turn on a light" and "turn up the lights". Disappointing.

[nil_by_mouth]

Alas, I suspect there isn't much examination of that relationship. I don't try to justify it, but unfortunately that's all part and parcel of who and what she is. That doesn't make it any less thorny when she's awkward/abrupt/hidden etc., but along with many others, it's what I have come to expect. She seems to operate in world of her own, and doesn't include an audience.

As I think has been established over the years, and touched upon in quite a few threads here, she is painfully shy. Despite the best part of two decades on stage, she seems to get worse, rather than better. I suspect it's part of the reason why tours are so short and so rare. This is pure speculation on my part, but out of the three shows I have seen so far on this tour, I think this was the 'darkest'. Perhaps that was coincidence, but I suspect the fact that the Fillmore is the largest venue so far might have something to do with it. Yes, she's played there before, but she seemed all the more daunted by it (despite the venue only being about half full). I suspect it's also why a handful of tiny, random shows were added to the tour at the 11th hour. She wanted to ease into playing again by performing in front of a couple of hundred people (before getting to larger venues). If that's the case, it doesn't seem to have worked as she still hides her hand on the mic stand and sings in half light.

[Fan2]

I wish other fans would post their reaction to this show, that way maybe Hope or someone might read these reviews and make a tiny change in her lighting to make it better for the rest of her tour and then she would totally get rave reviews. We were at this show too and it was way too dark. The sound was great and her voice was awesome but the lack of light was like sitting in the dark listening to the CD. This is from a BIG FAN who loves Hope and her music so this is totally constructive criticism.

[nil_by_mouth]

Without wanting to sound overly negative....

I don't understand why people think she needs these things pointed out to her - it's not like it's not obvious, and it's not like it's not by design. That is how she wants it, and the fan experience really doesn't appear to be on her radar at all. It never has been, and probably never will.

How many artists are there who play a whole show with saying "hello", "thank you" or "goodbye" to an audience? She is the only artist I have ever seen in hundreds of performances who will perform and not acknowledge the audience in any shape or form during a gig. It's quite clear...she does not care....we could have 10,000 people saying "it's too dark" and it wouldn't make blind bit of difference to the outcome.

[Rumbaphile]

I was at the Fillmore West show on 26-Sep-2009. The dim lighting was the least of my issues with this show. My major complaint is that a major portion of the audience seemed to be engaged in seemingly endless loud conversations amongst themselves during the song performances. Rather than being polite and respectful to those of us who wanted to quietly be attentive and listen to every nuance of this amazing religious experience the audience members were shouting conversation to their neighboring mates and dates. Am I the only one who felt disturbed by this lack of respect by a great portion of the audience? Also, what is the compulsion to shout loud, obnoxious, cacaphonous "whoo-hoos" every time Hope played the harmonica. It is exciting to listen to hope play the harmonica but the "whoo-hoos" ruined the sensuality of those moments. I kept moving around the floor to get away from these goons but they were everywhere.

[DaveP]

That's the one thing I find hard to deal with at shows is all the converastions going on that sometimes together are so loud they disrupt the show for those just wanting to hear the music itself. People yelling song names out when you know they are sticking to the setlist. Other bands like Horsby, Los Lobos sure they just kick in to what you want to hear. Hope is obviously structured and sticking to it.

As far as hope playing in the dark - I remember seeing The Jesus and Mary Chain in the early 90's and they just blasted bright white lights from behind so you couldn't even see them perform. They didn't engage the crowd either. The difference is they were so fucking loud I couldn't hear for a week after the show.

I would think that fans who come to this forum would by now expect that they will see Hope and Band in the dark and will play a set with out engaging the crowd at all. I can tell you that of the 30 years I've been attending concerts a large portion of bands ding their songs and leave. So to me that really wouldn't matter much. Not everyone is a Bono type. So go listen to some amazing music and just enjoy - I certainly would love to.

[StudioA]

I think the main issue here is expectation. Our expectation based on other shows we've seen by other artists.

If you were lucky enough to have been able to read some of these show reviews prior to buying your tickets, you would know almost exactly what to expect. In that case, someone could feel that the show met their expectations (even if they didn't like or agree with certain aspects of the show).

If you hadn't seen her perform before and you were buying tickets to one of the first shows for this new album, and felt that the show did not meet your expectations, than I do feel bad for you. That is unfortunate. It is an investment in Time and Money. In this case really, the only thing you can do is... not buy any more songs or albums or not support her or her bands any longer. That is really all you can do at this point, to make your point. After all, any artist "Reaps what they Sow".

I will still be buying my tickets to an upcoming show, even after knowing all the facts about the prior shows. Yes, I am doing this with risk, I know. But, I would like to at least say later, "I did see her perform live."

Here's what we know about her shows so far (Take this into consideration before buying your tickets):

1. She may not enter the stage or start singing for up to 2 hours 40 minutes from the start of the show.
2. She may not acknowledge the audience (in any way).
3. You may not see her in any light during the show.
4. There may be sound problems during the show.
5. The show's set consists mainly of some backlighting, a projector shooting images/video onto a bed sheet.
6. There is NO flash photography allowed at the show.
6. She may walk off the stage early, if there are any problems she can't deal with.

[nil_by_mouth]

In the main, well said.

One thing that's been picked up on elsewhere and is way off the mark relates to this:

"1. She may not enter the stage or start singing for up to 2 hours 40 minutes from the start of the show."

That's another ridiculous gripe. Any ticket you buy for any show will state the time the performance starts. It may, but probably won't list who the support act is (or whether there will be any). At the Fillmore, the music did start exactly on time. There were two support acts. Anyone who thinks the headline act will go on at the show time printed on the ticket is either on crack, deluded, or hasn't been to many shows. Yes, the gap between the end of the set by the support and Hope's may have been a little longer than 'expected', but that's about 45 minutes. Which is really quite normal.

Most shows in venues such the one's she's playing schedule the headline act to take the stage between 10:30-11:15pm. Yes, welcome to corporate America, be it on a school night or otherwise. The doors open at 8pm...band doesn't finish until close to midnight...plenty of time for the house to make a killing on those $8 beers. That has nothing to do with the band, and everything to do with venue's bar takings.

[drelladesign]

To me, this whole story of playing in the dark is kind of a swindle.
i really love Hope's music and work and i have maximum respect for her BUT :
if she's really that uncomfortable with live performances, well, just don't do it at all !!!
there's no one pulling a gun at her to go on stage.
it will be just fine to put out records and not touring at all.

if she agreed on touring, then do it right.
To me this is kind of a swindle, cause she agreed on taking audience's money but
don't want to give anything back at all in return, not communicating at all, not even the right to be seen.
this is really disrespectfull to her fans, specially when as it is said above, there are many (technical) ways to be
seen without seeing, like a pale blue/violet light.
playing a gig in pitch dark night, ignoring people who came, paid and took their time to attend the show,
it's just disrespectfull.
just don"t bother doing it, or make it a free gig.

I plan on to attend the Paris gig, and for 30 euros the ticket, i just expect that :
1- i'll be able to see something other than a dark stage
2- i won't feel like she's acting like we are not there and that we are just here to pay her 30 euros.

and don't give that bullshit story about being shy,
when you perform on stage, saying Hello and Thanks, that is just courtesy.

[nil_by_mouth]

when you perform on stage, saying Hello and Thanks, that is just courtesy.

I couldn't agree with you more. However, by the same token, nobody is putting a gun to your head and making you go.

It's interesting how people define "expection". Given all that you've (presumably) read here, surely you don't expect anything to be different. There almost certainly won't be banter, nor will there be a wall of white lights. You may 'want' it, but surely you don't 'expect' that at this stage?

lol @ "swindle". Where does one draw the line? If a band doesn't play 90 minutes, is that a swindle? how about if they don't play their big radio-friendly unit shifter?

Enjoy Paris.

[drelladesign]

I couldn't agree with you more. However, by the same token, nobody is putting a gun to your head and making you go.

eh eh ! Fair enough ! good point.
i could answer, that i may wanna go because i have the opportunity to ! that i love the artist to the point that i want to share
something with him, show some support to his music by attending to his gig.
and i'm not expecting that much in return, a good sound, something to see and not feeling like i've been ignored nor that
the show would have been better without the audience.
i'd rather see a band play 25 minutes of intense sincere music than a boring heartless 2 hours and fifty minutes gig in the dark

there's no point at all to play a gig in total pitch balck !
that's the same as making an exhibition without any canvas hanged on the wall...if you get me.

[Scarecrow]

If Hope not showing herself in the light, acknowledging you, or talking to you makes you that upset, then don't go.

To me, what I find great about the live shows is hearing the feedback when she and the band play instruments, the mix of jarring silent film clips into the show, and Hope sharing a mind-blowing pre-show playlist of her own favorite music--this means so much more to me and sends so much more powerful of a message to me than seeing her face would.

I've been to concerts where I've exchanged banter with the artist during the show, I've met the artist after the show, and I've been commanded (sometimes even angrily) by the artist to "get my hands in the air! come on! louder! I can't hear you!" (Personally, I've always hated the last example).

But there is a purity to this tour that tops any concert(s) I've ever been to--and it evolves from the fact that it's truly all about the musical and visual experience...not being able to see the artist's face takes away from the magic of these shows by .01%. Everything else outweighs this.

When you go to an opera, you can't see the musical performers' face. Even sometimes in an orchestra, where there is no visual spectacle, you can't see the faces of the singers.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... hestra.jpg

So if she feels more comfortable without the light then so be it. What will you get out of seeing her face? You already know what she looks like. If you want to see her that bad, then come 3-4 hours before the show and wait outside the venue door. She will walk by, maybe even talk to you, and then you will have seen her.

As for myself, having seen not one but two shows, I can't stop raving about them.