Photos by Julie Drexler
Prior to its recent release, Laurie Anderson’s Homeland, has taken on various forms over the years on the road and in the studio. In its current recorded state it’s a political beast and a masterpiece of topical storytelling. In its live incarnation, it’s a minimalistic, humorous and often chilling experience.
On stage at World Cafe Live’s dinner theater this past Monday, Laurie was joined by bassist Bill Laswell and keyboardist Rob Burger, who also plays The Orchestron aka The Optigan, a vintage keyboard in which you insert optical discs containing sampled sounds (Burger discusses it in this interview.). But unlike Anderson’s past performance art pieces, this show was all about the music. No background visuals. No interpretive dance. Just the players, the audience, and the music.
With violin, keyboard and laptop in tow, she led us through an ambient landscape layered with thematic stories of behavioral origins, current sociological constructs and alienation. The visual minimalism complimented the dark-natured, sparsity of the material and was often juxtaposed with satirical commentary courtesy of her authoritative and debonair alter-ego Fenway Bergamot (named by husband Lou Reed). Bergamot, who speaks in a creepy, authoritative voice thanks to Anderson’s infamous audio drag voice filter, poked fun and questioned modern-day issues like the BP oil spill and the economic collapse enducing welcomed waves of laughter from the audience.
These days it’s not often that an artist has the ability to mesh profound world issues with challenging, yet accessible music in such a thoughtful and entertaining way, but Laurie Anderson has done just that with her new album and its accompanying live show. This is smart music for smart people.
A one-of-a-kind , tour-only autographed version of the album with a fun, cheeky doodle.
Purchase Homeland now from Nonesuch Records and catch Laurie on tour.
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