Debrief // Liz Phair at the Paradise // Dec. 15, 2010

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

I’ll admit it – one song in, I was nervous.

After opening her show at the ‘Dise last night with a rather flat take on “Supernova,” Liz Phair promptly took to the mic, declaring with a sincere smile, “It’s good to rock.”

Fortunately for the fans who braved the bitter cold to attend, Phair and her three-piece backing band were just warming up. The mediocrity was promptly washed away by a swift romp through “6’1″,” “Help Me Mary” and “Divorce Song,” and Phair quickly had the packed house hanging on her every word.

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, BostonDespite the recent release of the hastily recorded, widely panned “Funstyle” – an album that the singer says “lost me my management, my record deal and a lot of nights of sleep” – this is a great time to catch Phair in concert. Freed from record-label shackles, the 43 year old is clearly having fun and making music for herself.

That doesn’t mean that Phair has lost her trademark sauciness. While acknowledging the heat in the crowded club, she invited fans to strip for her pleasure, and she diverted from her already Exile in Guyville-heavy setlist to bring a couple audience members up to assist her on the breathy “Flower.” She would later dismiss incessant requests for “H.W.C.,” declaring that one XXX moment was enough for the night.

After closing her main set with “Fuck and Run,” Phair returned for a crowd-pleasing five-song encore that included “Girls Room” and the Girlysound track “Speed Racer.”

Liz Phair’s setlist:
Supernova / 6’1″ / Help Me Mary / Divorce Song / May Queen / Never Said / Nashville / And He Slayed Her / Polyester Bride / Flower / Mesmerizing / Oh, Bangladesh / Extraordinary / Stratford-On-Guy / Fuck and Run // Perfect World / Soap Star Joe / Girls Room / Speed Racer / Johnny Feelgood

Despite playing its first hometown date in months, the Everyday Visuals opened the show with an uninspiring set played to a largely apathetic crowd.

Liz Phair:

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

Liz Phair at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston


The Everyday Visuals

The Everyday Visuals at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

The Everyday Visuals at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston

About brian

Brian is a freelance music writer and photographer based in Boston who works full-time as a business-to-business marketing communications specialist and graphic/web designer. He provides all the content for Fighting Tinnitus. You can view his concert photography portfolio at www.lifeinhighiso.com.
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2 Responses to Debrief // Liz Phair at the Paradise // Dec. 15, 2010

  1. troy smith says:

    Funny, nothing but dudes in the audience…AGAIN. LOL.

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