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Alanis / BnL Contrast Nicely

Alanis Morissette / Barenaked Ladies
Marcus Amphitheater
Milwaukee, WI
July 22, 2004

Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette

Review and Photos by Matt Schwenke

On a cool night along the shores of Lake Michigan, the Barenaked Ladies and Alanis Morissette put on an intimate show at the Marcus Amphitheater. While the Barenaked Ladies were the opener, it was more of a shared show than an opener/headliner kind of thing. The crowd that night seemed to be split down the middle, as far as who they liked more, with many fans arriving after the Barenaked Ladies set and just as many leaving before Alanis took to the stage. The difference in mood between the two acts may have been too much for some to handle, but both acts found a way to stay personable and to maintain a sizeable crowd at the large venue.
Alanis Morissette The Barenaked Ladies took to the stage first and instantly drew the crowd in with their pop hooks and incredible stage presence. BnL know how to entertain! From their first song to their last, BnL never let the crowds' attention stray from the show. Besides the stage antics of running and jumping about, dangling underwear on a guitar and playfully kicking each other, BnL also used theatrics to add a different dimension to their show. Dancing and singing to either a looped track or a recorded track, the members of the band put down their instruments late in the set and grabbed shopping carts in what turned out to be a well-choreographed dance routine.
Whether it was the banter between band members, animated figures on the screen talking about stage fright and location of seats, or random art work on the screen, there was plenty to entertain the crowd between songs. "It's hard to be lactose intolerant in Dairyland USA" was the lead-in to Ed Robertson's improv rap about beef and butter-- apparently inspired by Wisconsin's own butterburger. With all of the things to hear and see in the show, the musical talent of this band, however, can not be overlooked. About halfway through the show, the band gathered in the middle of the stage in a folk-like setup with an upright, acoustic guitar, and some shakers. This part of the evening showcased their ability to sing challenging harmonies and play with a more serious attitude. BnL also played an encore, rare for an opener, that included Alanis joining in on vocals and dancing with guitarist and vocalist Steven Page.
With a rather large shuffling of fans, Alanis then took to the stage after her band provided an intro of effect-driven guitar work. Pacing back and forth for much of the first four or five songs, Alanis looked as though she needed a little time to open up to the crowd. And, open up she certainly did. Her singing throughout the night was stellar and her guitar and harmonica playing commendable, but the difference in moods may have made some fans leave a bit too early. The much more serious attitude of Alanis was in stark contrast to the free-for-all attitude of BnL. Also, while both acts have their share of well-known hits, Alanis' set relied too heavily on her old popular material. The most interesting parts of her act were her knewer songs, which have a rock feel compared to the older pop songs. Old material be damned, the crowd still provided their own vocal track to the hit "Ironic" and many others throughout the night. In all, a great performance by a great singer/songwriter that just needs to venture further from her pop of old.

Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette

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