Martha Wainwright is a truly unique artist, with a special place in my heart. I had been looking forward to this show for approximately forever, and she really was a treat-and-a-half (and then some.)
As previously catalogued Martha is an intense artist to listen to and, it turns out, to see live. You don't just "see" Martha, or "hear" Martha - you experience her; she kind of just happens to you and either you're there with her or you're not. She's the kind of artist you want to listen to forever, and she definitely indulged us, playing a nearly two hour set.
I've previously commented on Martha's "desperately emotional" lyrics, and at several points she explained her songwriting process, telling us that both of her parents were "very literal songwriters" which she found "hard to compete with" and thus resorted to "overly poetic" lyrics. Self-deprecating or otherwise, I love her ability to write truly beautiful - and yes, desperately emotional - songs, without ever resorting to tackiness or cliche. I think her "overly poetic" lyrics are one of her strongest points as a songwriter and hope she never changes. She is, as also previously catalogued, often quite depressing - it was little surprise to hear that following the death of her mother, Kate McGarrigle, and the premature birth of her baby, that she "put the guitar away" lest she write too many depressing songs. I love her honesty and I love her new material, so it looks like the hiatus worked.
It's evident that Martha lives, breathes and exists for music. It's a family affair, and even without knowing her family background, her live act made clear that she comes from something of a musical dynasty. She - seemingly nervously - played a number of her mother's songs, and offered her personal commentary on them ("my mother wrote this for a stage musical but, as with all my mother's songs, it ended up being about her. As it should be.") She also referred countless times to brother Rufus and their musical upbringing - there's either an incredible closeness or incredible sibling rivalry between the two. I suspect it's a bit of both. It was also a lovely dynamic to see her accompanied for part of the show by her husband Brad Albetta on piano and backing vocals.
I was thrilled to see Martha perform some of her Edith Piaf material, particularly her lovely rendition of "Adieu, Mon Coeur", dedicated to our lost friends in Christchurch. Typically Martha, this was a touching moment without going over the top. There are any number of Piaf tributes out there, but I think Martha does Piaf a great service by performing much of her lesser-known work. That said, the stunning close to her set was the ubiquitous "La Vie en Rose", performed unaccompanied and sans microphone (evidently a dare from Rufus) - just Martha, just her voice, and she absolutely filled the Auckland town hall. It. Was. Specactular.
She handles Piaf's material with care, and respectfully re-presents her work - it's an album I'll buy. But there is only one Edith Piaf and - perhaps more importantly - there is only one Martha Wainwright. And while I love her Edith work, I love her orginals more. This was - wait for it - a set for the fans, featuring plenty of her early work (highlights: "Factory", "Far Away" and of course "Bleeding All Over You") with an honourable mention for closing her main set with "BMFA" - before which she apologised to the largely middle-aged, middle-class audience if the lyrics offended. (Google it.)
It's her own work that allows her truly unique vocal style to shine at its full potential, and it was her originals that made the show for me. I was also glad to see that the same light cheekiness that occasionally sneaks through in her recorded works is front and centre of her live show - very cute crowd banter, and a light-hearted approach to often difficult themes. A wonderful set on all fronts, and worth the wait to see her. My longstanding obsession with this truly exceptional, desperately talented, wonderful artist: officially confirmed.
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