kaliha | Review: Rufus Wainwright - Birmingham Symphony Hall

Rufus Wainwright & his band
Symphony Hall – Birmingham
Wednesday 13th April 2005

Now, I’m not really a fan of ol’ Rufus. That honour belongs to His Lordship, who played Want One and Poses to death on numerous car journeys. (Which is why I never really liked him – it was all he’d listen too). (Which is quite pot calling the kettle black to be honest).

So I knew of him, but didn’t really know his music (with only listening to him in the car), I wasn’t too sure what to expect. His Lordship really wanted me to go to his next concert so when he told me that Rufus would be playing in Brum I agreed to go.

So last week found me waiting on a really cold and windy platform in Telford waiting to catch a train to the bright lights of the big city.

Also joining His Lordship and myself on our night out was His Lordship’s brother (who took the fantastic photos), Ammi and Hugh and Claire (who dressed up for the occasion in a old fashioned Policeman’s outfit and a girly sailor suit) (It’s a long story, involving cancelled fancy dress parties and promises).

--The Venue--
The Symphony Hall is the jewel of Birmingham’s culture crown. Home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; it plays host to all sorts of musical events from classical music to modern world music to Neil Finn to Rufus Wainwright (obviously).

It’s a huge expense of polished wood floors, granite walls and really comfy chairs. To make sure you get the best possible sound, the entire auditorium is on rubber pilings to deaden vibrations and walls and curtains can be moved to improve the acoustics. It’s all very high tech. I love the place.

We got settled in our Stalls, Row F seats and waited for the lights to dim.

--The Gig--

The show opened with the scraping strings and haunting melody of Agnus Dei (which His Lordship’s brother correctly guessed would be the opening song).

Rufus is quite a chatty chappy. Although he was very nervous and rather rambly, (comparing the Symphony Hall to something out of a futuristic Arnie movie) he did make an effort with his audience. More than once during the gig he likened himself to having ADD and although chatty he spent a lot of his time fiddling with his mic stand rather than look out across the packed house.

Crumb By Crumb – I got distracted by the dark haired backing singer during this one (the all the way through the night). When she sang, she contorted her face so she looked like she was in real pain. It was really strange.
Peach Trees
Hometown Waltz
Vibrate – It very nearly wasn’t with Rufus launching into the start of another song, leaving his band bewildered. It was quite sweet. “You nearly saw me fire my band on stage”.
Grey Gardens
The Art Teacher – Me and His Lordship has been talking about this song the other day. I didn’t understand why he was singing about being a girl. Rufus explained the meaning behind the song; (it was if he knew). Apparently he quite fancied a straight Art teacher who worked out in his gym and he wrote him a song. (Awww). The Art teacher thought he was a bit strange.

This Love Affair
The One You Love
Gay Messiah
Want
Beautiful Child
Memphis Skyline
Hallelujah

Cue loads of people singing along. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up on end, it really did. Had to go back over the start of a verse when he got a bit confused, but he managed it seamlessly.
Across The Universe
Beauty Mark opened up the ‘Wainwright Family Experience’ part of the show (according to Rufus). Beauty Mark is a going about Rufus’ mother and it was followed by
Little Sister (can you guess who it was about?). Rufus compared his family to the “Kennedy’s – only less neurotic.”
Dinner At Eight
Waiting For A Dream
Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk
14th Street – This was very, very nicely done. As the song reached the end, Rufus and the band left, one by one, until only the piano player was left. It was nifty.

--encore--

Old Whore's Diet – My word, this song is going to stick in my mind for a long time to come. Words can not describe the sight so I’ll use a picture instead:

I know. If I’d know there would be expanses of manflesh I’d have gone along sooner. Rufus is very smooth. I’m sure he waxes. His Lordship enjoyed the scantily clad ladies. (rolls eyes). There was a lot of wolf whistling.

After he finished singing, (and the whooping died down), he told us that everyone ought to dress like this once they turned thirty. (I don’t think I could pull the sequined posing-pouch off though).

Oh What A World – another costume change; this time into witches hats and cloaks, with lots of deep green, spooky lighting.
“Men reading fashion magazines/Oh what a world/We live in/Straight men (Like me)” *wink*

I Don't Know What It Is – and another costume change. This time into nice, warm fluffy dressing gowns. Much more refined. I thought the stripy socks with it was a good look.

--second encore--

Pretty Things
California

And then it was all over. And the auditorium were sad, but also happy because they got to see Rufus’ arse. Ammi went to hang around the stage door and see if she could get an autograph while the rest of us made our weary way home.

(Note to the council signage people: please put some decent road signs up around the City Centre, you make it really difficult to get out of town going the right way).

I liked the fact he made mistakes during the night, it made it a real performance. When it’s all absolutely note perfect it’s like listening to the CD and where’s the fun in that?

I really enjoyed myself. Certainly a lot more than I thought I would. I recommend picking up some of his stuff to listen too, once you get past the drawling-ness of it you’ll really enjoy it.

8.5/10