SETLIST
Set 1:
01. Say Hallelujah
02. Why?
03. Let it Rain
04. The Only One
05. Crossroads
06. Baby Can I Hold You
07. The Promise
08. Happy
09. Fast Car
10. Another Sun
11. Talkin’ bout A Revolution
12. You’re The One
13. For My Lover
14. House Of The Rising Sun
15. Give Me One Reason
Encore 1:
16. A Change Is Gonna Come
17. Proud Mary
REVIEW
- Tracy Chapman hits bluesy note – By: DONNIE MOORHOUSE, The Republican, 07/14/2003
NORTHAMPTON – It was somewhere near the end of Tracy Chapman’s two hour performance at the Calvin Theater on Friday night that she suddenly got the blues.
Maybe she was inspired by her own bluesy take on “House of the Rising Sun.” Perhaps she spotted blues diva Shemekia Copeland, who had walked over to catch the end of the set after finishing her own performance one block over at the Iron Horse.
Whatever the reason, the result was a standing ovation from a sold out, standing room only crowd at the historic theater as Chapman unleashed her own “Give Me One Reason,” first as it was originally recorded, and then juiced up double time in jump blues fashion.
Chapman rode that wave of momentum right through to her encore, where she closed with a scintillating and playful run through “Proud Mary.”
It was quite a finish to what had been a slightly more subdued performance to that point. Chapman, who is touring to support her latest release “Let It Rain,” set a comfortable pace in the early going, obviously building to the aforementioned climax.
She opened the show with “Say Hallelujah,” going with a breezy gospel mood, and followed that up with the poignant “Why?” leaning on another of her strengths, the political anthem.
Chapman, backed by a six piece band that included a backing vocalist and percussion player, also offered up “The Only One,” a song she had recorded as a duet with Emmylou Harris.
She then moved to more familiar ground, traipsing through her early hits with “Baby Can I Hold You,” and the escapist classic “Fast Car,” which inspired the first ovation of night.
Chapman stayed with that particular vibe, delivering another staple “Talkin’ About Revolution,” before introducing her band to the audience. She went semi-unplugged, with her drummer and percussionist banging on the side of boxes to provide the rhythm for “You’re the One,” and followed it up with “For My Lover.”
Chapman then gave a brief speech about the current political climate and described her hope for the 2004 presidential election with the song “A Change is Gonna Come.”
Joseph Arthur opened the show with a 45 minute set.
FAN REVIEW
- Lisa, 08/16/03: This was my second time seeing Tracy. My first time was at the Pines Theater a few years prior. She was great the first time I saw her, and even better the second time. She spent time talking to the audience which I think is very important…and the energy she had on stage was remarkable. She played to a packed house and people gave her a standing ovation on more than one occasion. After the show, my friend and I stood outside her tour bus and after around 45 minutes, she came out and took the time to sign some autographs for her fans. Any artist who takes those extra few minutes to put smiles on thier fans faces is worth seeing again and again. We can’t wait until she comes back!!
VENUE: Calvin Theatre, 19 King Street, Northampton, MA 01060 – USA
PROMOTER: Clear Channel Entertainment
OPENING ACT: Joseph Arthur
