Nekomania!

Yes, I have a stupid schoolboy crush on Neko Case. I admit it. But that doesn't mean I'm not being objective when I say that she just put on the most awesome concert of my life. Better than Ted Leo. Better than Wilco & The Minus Five. Better, even, than the R.E.M. show I went to when I was sixteen and thought Michael Stipe walked on water. Don't believe me? NPR recorded it.

Secretly I always half-wondered whether Neko's voice is real. It's just too perfect; I suspected some Ashlee Simpson work was going on behind the scenes. But her recordings don't even do her justice. Listen to her doing "Look For Me (I'll Be Around)" with only minimal backing or her tender, warm rendition of Bob Dylan's "Buckets Of Rain." Or "Deep Red Bells." Or, really, almost anything from tonight's show. Absolutely astounding.

I arrived at the 9:30 club just five minutes before Neko's opening act, Martha Wainwright, started playing. She was actually very good, although the crowd didn't pay much attention. These people were devoted Nekophiles and anything sans-Neko didn't seem to interest them much.

When Neko and her band came on everyone got really quiet. They didn't exactly stay that way, unfortunately; I heartily approve of cheering and yelling, but the guy behind me didn't really need to sing along with every song at the top of his voice. A very slight mar on an otherwise amazing evening. If any of you thought the songwriting on Fox Confessor... wasn't quite up to the standard of Blacklisted, as I did, let me tell you that the new songs really grow into themselves live.

Fun Neko Fact: Neko really, really, really loves R. Kelly.

Best Neko Fan Response Of The Night:

Neko: If you see the President on the street somewhere, tell him how much I hate him!
Crowd: (wild cheering and applause)
Random Dude: I hope you got that, NPR!

Second Best Neko Fan Response Of The Night:

Neko: This next song is about desperation.
Girl: WOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Girl's Boyfriend: (mortified) You can't cheer for desperation!

Here are some pictures. They're not very good because it's hard to get a decent shot in a dark club and because I didn't want to spend the entire concert holding a camera in front of my face.

Martha Wainwright:

Neko Case:

NPR has some better shots on their website. But they won't ever love you like I love you, Neko.