Last night I went to the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. to see Missy Higgins. While it wasn’t a super mixed demographic (most people there were probably under 28), I wasn’t the oldest person in the room.

Tickets cost $25 plus fees, etc. I bought my ticket to listen to Missy Higgins sing. When the show started, a lot of people grabbed their cell phones to start taking photos. No big surprise there. But A LOT of people grabbed their cell phones to start text messaging with their friends. At first I didn’t think much about it. I figured they were posting to Facebook and stuff that they were at the show. But they didn’t stop. Four girls that were right next to us were on their Blackberry’s through the whole first hour of the show (they moved before it was over so I can’t speak for the last half hour).

Not only were people text messaging, but they were talking to each other. The four girls mentioned above were talking when they weren’t typing on their Blackberry’s. A few songs into the show, someone asked them if they were going to talk during every song. He then told them that she is a good singer (I agree) and that they should listen to her music. They gave the look to each other like “can you believe this” but they didn’t talk anymore. I only wished that other people had followed suit. During every song you could hear people having conversations. During one point, Missy Higgins was talking about the inspiration behind one of her songs and I gather that a majority of the people wanted to hear what she had to say because you started hearing all these “Shhh” from all over the club. People did stop talking and for a few minutes you could hear only Missy Higgins talking.

This is the most recent example of a concert that I’ve been to where people seem to be doing everything but listening to the artist performing. When I went to see Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire last October, there were a few people behind me that were talking through the music. I looked back to say something but they stopped as soon as they saw me (I’m sure I got that “Can you believe that” look too).

I just don’t get it. Not only do I not understand why anyone would pay money for concert tickets only to talk to their friends the whole time – either in person or on their phone – but they show no respect for the artist performing or those of us that actually want to hear the artist. Wow, I sound really old. But I don’t think it is an age thing. I think it is a respect thing. And the majority of people at the 9:30 Club were being respectful. I know that when I’ve went to see Meg Hutchinson, she is the opening act and so many times the people at the show aren’t there to see her. What I’ve always found amazing about her is that within the first minute of her first song, everyone is listening. I’ve seen a few people talking to the person next to them, but they are whispering and not disturbing others.

Like I said, I just don’t get it. Seems like a lot of money to spend and not bother enjoy the music.

It appears that the poster of this video also wrote up a review of Meg’s CD Come Up Full. Worth a read.

As always it was a great show. Meg opened for Antje Duvekot -- who was also wonderful to see. I never will get enough of hearing Meg perform live. All three of the following songs can be found on her CD, Come Up Full.

Song for Jeffrey Lucey

I’d Like to Know

Home

My only complaint is that her set was too short.

Something that I have noticed at every performance I’ve be to where Meg opened was how the audience warms up to her so quickly. The applause gets louder and the enthusiasm gets stronger as she ends each song she performs. It is great to see. Each time we have seen her, the people around us were not aware of her music and by the end of her set, every one we have spoken to say how much they enjoyed the show.

I’m excited because she will be returning to the Tin Angel on Dec. 13th.

Meg Hutchinson

Ah, a moment away from politics. Just a moment, but a good moment.

I was home for a while today and was listing to Meg Hutchinson. I decided to do a quick search and see if there were any new tour dates for her at her web site. YEAH!!! There are. I’m going to get to see her perform again!

For those who don’t know, Meg Hutchinson is a folk singer who is one of the best singers I’ve come across in a long time. Happen to see her earlier in the year when she was an opening act and can’t get enough since. She is the first singer I’ve ever went to concerts to see even though she isn’t the main act.

Check her out at her official site, http://www.meghutchinson.com/.

Meg Hutchinson

A few weeks later, a friend of mine and I were talking about taking a day trip and somehow we talked about maybe going to Philly and seeing a show. She had been to a place called the Tin Angel before so I took a look at the schedule to see what was coming up. A singer named Catie Curtis was appearing and I liked her music. I then noticed that Meg Hutchinson was opening for her. I was sure that it couldn’t be the same person I had come across a few weeks earlier but when I double checked, I found out it was. We decided to go to the show.

Meg Hutchinson came onto the stage and two things happened… First, she opened with Every Day! I couldn’t believe that. Second, both myself and my friend were completely hooked even before she completed the song. Half way into her set, my friend looked at me and asked if I thought she might have her CD for sale. Sure enough she did. We were able to meet her, let her know how much we were blown away by her performance and even get her to autograph the CD’s we purchased.

The next day, we put the CD into the player for the trip home and since then, I don’t think three days have gone by without my listening to her music. Come Up Full, the title of her latest CD, is in my car CD player and hasn’t been taken yet.

We have seen Meg perform a few times this year, both in Pennsylvania and Virginia. We both wish we could see her perform even more. If the hotel bills weren’t adding up so much, we would .

I wish I could write a review worthy of this performer’s music, but I can’t. There is something about this young singer and songwriter that is so amazing. While the category her music falls into is considered folk – which is one of my favorite categories of music – some people get scared off by this label. Don’t be! Her lyrics get into your head and make you feel something while listening to her sing. Her voice is perfect and conveys so much emotion through each song. You feel what the song is about when you listen to her sing. Yet somehow each song can become so personal.

For me, it almost feels like it was fate that I came across this artist. Come Up Full has become a very healing CD for me this year.

While there is not a single track that I don’t like on her current CD, Come Up Full, there are a few songs that I do want to comment on:

Home – During a few performances, Meg stated that this songs become a sing-along about manic depression during the tour. There is something powerful about this song that I can’t put my finger on. Aside from the fact that this song can be very personal to anyone who’s ever dealt with depression – I think what I find so amazing is that someone could listen to this song who never dealt with issue of depression, bi-polar, etc. and understand what others are going through or have gone through in the past.

Good Day to Die – I’ve told a number of people that this is a song that I makes me feel like I should aspire to be at this place in my life. To me, this song is not about dying but instead about being able to look back on your life and feeling okay with where you are.

I’d Like to Know Someone – Meg recently referred to this song as “A folk version of a personal ad”. I thought that was a perfect way to put this. For me, getting out of a terrible relationship and finding someone who I feel so connected to makes me relate to this song.

Song for Jeffrey Lucey – This is a very powerful and very moving song about a solider named Jeffrey Lucey who returned from Iraq physically unharmed but with wounds that nobody could see. He took his own life on June 22, 2004. Personally I find this song hard to listen to because of the death of my son in 2006. The opening lyrics, “You would’ve made a great dad, If you’d lived that long…” hit very close to home for me.

This song is now featured in a documentary on the site In Their Boots. There is a video about Jeffrey Lucey and his struggles after returning home. This is very moving and I highly recommend you take the time to watch.

As I said, I can’t write a review that makes any real sense. Below are some links to some that might help you understand what I wish I could say.

I highly recommend both CD’s that are currently available, The Crossing and Come Up Full. I can’t wait until her next CD. No matter when it is released, it will not be soon enough.

Links:

Meg Hutchinson Official Site

Meg Hutchinson MySpace Site

Here is a great review that is right on target: “Emerging Songwriters: Meg Hutchinson Casts A Net Of Inspiration To Come Up Full”

Whole Wheat Radio – Info, videos and samples of her music