Toronto 7/4/00

[Daryl Mann <drmann>]

 I'm afraid that I'm not well-versed enough in the Patti Smith `ouvre'
to give you a set-list from last night's remarkable show at Convocation
Hall in Toronto....but let me tell you, she *rocked*! :-) This was the
first time that I'd seen Patti, and I have to say that along with Phish,
she is live rock and roll's best-kept-secret. If anyone was long-overdue
for a live disc, it's Patti! What was that high-energy punk workout she
did as the second number? She mentioned that she'd done it at Massey Hall
in '76 as well. Loved it. I was somewhat surprised at how amiable and
chatty she was with the audience. Patti stated what a `great old place'
Convocation Hall was and asked what exactly `convocation' meant. There
were a lot of topics covered: Jack Morris, John Rocker, her stroll through
the Royal Conservatory Of Music, the empty chair beside her for Jerry
Garcia, how she almost cancelled the Toronto gig because she wanted to
be home for the 4th...among other things.
 No opening act....`One Voice', `Gung Ho', `Dancing Barefoot', `Because
The Night', `Strange Messengers', `People Have The Power', `Gone Pie',
`Looking For You', `Beneath The Southern Cross'..a wicked `Rock 'n
Roll Nigger>Machine Gun>Gloria' as the encore with Patti raving about
Johnny hiding in `Winnipeg' before coming home. A fabulous rock and
roll show...I've seen several Springsteen shows on his recent tour and
I must say that I enjoyed this just as much if not more. What a sexy
woman! I will admit that I was hard-pressed to take my eyes off of
Patti. How refreshing to have a female entertainer to gaze at. :-) If
I could make yet another wish it would be to dance with Patti to a tape
of British Invasion hits...I think that would be fun. Before the encore
Smith said that she had counted 22 `embarrassing moments' in the show...
a new record for her. Say...is there a name for Patti fans who go from
show-to-show? :-) A torrid `All That Glitters' with false starts and
a terrific `Boy Cried Wolf' were also included. I thought that band
was dynamite as well, especially Jay Dee Daugherty. But that *VOICE*!
 The t-shirts...I guess it would be too much to ask to have Patti's
visage on a shirt as opposed to Ho Chi Minh's? I suppose this is what
happens when the artist makes the creative decisions. I passed.
 Finally...does anyone know who the singer was on the pre-concert music
*before* Nina Simone and Jimi Hendrix? It sounded like Jeff Buckley
but wasn't...his father perhaps? It was great stuff, whomever it was.




                                  Daryl.