Patti in London

["Andrew F Wilson" <andrewfwilson>]

Friday, 19 October 2007 was the first event of a programme of concerts
arranged by the Barbican in London to mark Philip Glass's 70th
birthday. The recital at LSO St Luke's (a former church, now a small
concert hall) was billed as "Philip Glass and Patti Smith: The Poet
Speaks", and was a tribute to the poetry of Allen Ginsberg.

Philip Glass played piano whilst Patti read poems. Glass also played
three solo pieces, and Lenny Kaye accompanied Patti on three of her
own songs. All three artists performed together for the encore.

It's quite a small venue and the event had sold out many months
beforehand. There was a sprinkling of the great and the good in the
audience - I noticed Leonard Cohen arrive just before the start. The
event itself was quite magical. Patti was in a reverent and
enthusiastic mood and gave readings of intense expression. It was
truly a privilege to witness.  The pieces performed were:

Notes for the Future (PS PG)
Wichita Vortex Sutra (PS PG)
The Blue Thangka (PS PG)
Light on the Balcony (PG)
Etudes 2 & 10 (PG)
Beneath the Southern Cross (PS LK)
My Blakean Year (PS LK)
Ghost Dance (PS LK)
On Cremation of Chvgyam Trungpa, Vidyadhara (PS PG)
Magic Psalm (PS PG)
(encore)
Spell (PS PG LK)

The next day, Saturday, 20 October 2007, was Rimbaud's birthday, and
Patti and the band gave a Rock n Rimbaud concert at the Shepherds Bush
Empire.  The concert started with Ask the Angels, setting the tone for
a setlist that was made up of songs with either explicit Rimbaud
references, or a Rimbaud association for Patti.  The highlights
included a rare performance of Radio Ethiopia, after which Patti
recited Rimbaud's final unsent letter from memory (one of the sources
for the song's lyrics).  There was also a Rimbaud related
improvisational piece, with Kevin Shields joining the band on guitar.

Are You Experienced seems to have gone a further re-arrangement in the
later section.  Beneath the Southern Cross had a great slide solo from
the new guitarist who's replacing Jackson.  The encore was a
tour-de-force, greatly enhanced by having four guitarists (Kevin
Shields had returned, and Patti had her black Strat). At one point
Patti took a fall, tripping over a monitor.  "I've done worse", she
said reassuringly.  "In this life, you've got to keep your balance."
The song ended with Patti ripping the strings from her guitar, one by
one.  It was a special night.

Full setlist:

Ask the Angels
Privilege (Set Me Free)
Are You Experienced?
Ghost Dance
Dancing Barefoot
Beneath the Southern Cross
Ain't It Strange
Radio Ethiopia
Final Letter (Arthur Rimbaud)
We Three
Gimme Shelter
Pushin' Too Hard (false start)
Pushin' Too Hard
Because the Night
Rimbaud Improvisation *
Smells Like Teen Spirit *
Land / Gloria
(encore)
Babelogue / Rock n Roll Nigger *

* special guest Kevin Shields

Kind regards


Andrew