OT: Neko Case

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Hey folks, I know we have at least a couple Neko fans here who may or may not read the "Other Concerts" thread.

Anyway, saw her tonight at the Ryman and the gig was just sublime. I'm starting to be convinced she's the new, redheaded, female Leonard Cohen.

Dependable sidewoman Kelly Hogan was hilarious, as usual, and the setlist was tremendous. Lots of stuff off "Fox Confessor," including "Maybe Sparrow", "Margaret v. Pauline," "Star Witness," "Hold On," "Teenage..." but also the title track from "Tigers" and SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! She closed the set with "Train from Kansas City," my all-time favorite of her songs. (I requested "Fist City," her Loretta Lynn cover, during the requisite "shout out song titles" portion of the evening...am actually a little surprised she didn't play it. Likely the band doesn't know it. She covered it years ago with Carolyn Mark, who she plays with as Corn Sisters.)

I didn't quite get the setlist, mostly because I couldn't take my eyes off her all night, and because they bust you for getting out phones or any type of light at the Ryman.

She got two standing ovations and seemed quite pleased.

Seriously, there was just something really special about this gig. She's my hero(ine). Go if you possibly can.

More when I think of it. Kinda mentally fried as I've been trying to fight my nocturnal habits lately and am actually starting to get sleepy around 1 AM....

[Divemistress of the Dark]

My review for Ticketbastard...They bribed me with a free-concert-ticket giveaway:

As a longtime Neko fan and Nashville resident, I've waited many years to see the redheaded chanteuse headline the Ryman Auditorium. I was not disappointed and tears sprang to my eyes on several occasions....really, she's that good.

Neko has unbelievable stage presence and virtually any artist playing the Ryman brings his or her "A" game. This show was no exception. The setlist included more than a few songs from Case's back catalog, mostly the 2006 seminal release "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood." The crowd went wild to hear "Hold On Hold On," "Margaret vs. Pauline" and "Star Witness," and Case and her band got one of the few standing ovations I've ever seen from a Ryman crowd after its rendition of "Train from Kansas City," off the live album "Tigers have Spoken." Tracks from the 2009 release "Middle Cyclone" comprised, among others, "Wish I Was the Moon," "People got a Lotta Nerve", "I'm an Animal" and the album's title track.

She's sort of the new, redheaded, female Leonard Cohen. It was really very fitting to see her up on the Ryman stage, since she's pretty clearly greatly influenced by forebears Loretta Lynn, Wanda Jackson, etc. If there were any justice she'd be crazy famous and whoever's Nashville's flavor-of-the-moment would be relegated to the slagbin of history.

Some of her newer works are pretty subtle and it really helps one understand them more clearly to see her play them live. Coconspirator Kelly Hogan was also in top form, showing off her fine sense of humor and tremendous vocal range. The touring band, featuring the mighty Jon Rauhouse on slide guitar, was terrific.

I'll be first in line to buy tickets when Neko comes back to town. Apparently there was a little trouble with the Gaylord organization back in 2001 when Neko aired out her blouse onstage, but hopefully that's all cleared out now. Seriously, they're a little too picky about these things. She's a Bonnaroo mainstay but has only played a handful of headlining sets in Nashville. Here's hoping we'll start to see her around more often.

No photos or vid at the Ryman, and you can't even have a camera phone, so alas, no pics or good notes on the setlist. Sorry folks.