Marianne Faithfull @ The Tivoli 30-01-10

Marianne Faithfull

For a while tonight’s Marianne Faithfull show, the first of two at The Tivoli, didn’t look like it was going to happen as a reviewer interested in covering the show couldn’t be found, meaning that it’s a fairly last minute addition to my diary.

Looking around the venue, it’s a very mixed crowd; there’s obviously a lot more older folk than I normally see at most shows but also a surprising amount of fairly young people.  Best of all is the guy in front row centre aisle seat who has a massive green mohican; definitely something I wasn’t expecting at a Marianne Faithfull show.

Tonight’s photo instructions are to photograph from the far right hand side against the wall.  It’s a long way from the middle of the stage but worst of all is that there’s a music stand in the way.  And of course after the first three songs not only is there a change in lighting from a lot of red to a lot of pure white light, but she unhooks her mic from its stand and moves forward, providing a clear, unobstructed view.

Her tour is in support of  a new album of covers, Easy Come, Easy Go.  Whoever was responsible for the A&R and directing her to potential songs has a lot of good taste, although much of this is lost on the audience, with hardly a sign of recognition as she introduces songs by Neko Case and The Decemberists.  A mention of the name “Black Rebel Motorcycle Club” (whose song Salvation she covers) provides some amusement, but probably more at the absurdity of the band’s name rather than her story about being a founder member of the ‘Club’ as a result of her role in the 1968 film The Girl on a Motorcycle. She also plays older classics from the 60s and 70s, including As Tears Go By, Sister Morphine, Broken English and the previosuly banned in Australia Why D’Ya Do It?.

The show starts at 8pm, with no support act and is all over by 9:45pm, an exteremly rare event for a gig in Australia on a Saturday night.  Persosnally I think it’s a stoke of genius, as it’s gives the option to either stay out or head home.  In the end I decided to head home, with an early night meaning all the photos are edited and out the way by midnight.

A few more photos on Flickr.

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull

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