She’s dropped the horrid guitar-bass-drum band since the last time I saw her–their presence also weakened her last album, Begin To Hope. This time she played a segment and part of the three-song encore (“Us” & “Samson”) with a two-piece (or three?) string section that provided just the right amount of accent to the piano’s gorgeous sound, without overwhelming it one bit. The cello’s sound, in particular, was warm and fantastic.

All photos, by Kashish, and more stories after the jump.

She was wise to include older songs, including “Ode to Divorce”–I don’t think I’d seen her perform “The Ghost of Corporate Future” or “Love Affair” before; all three are evidence of Regina’s exemplary songwriting when she’s at her best. Except the few new ones she played, Regina’s enthusiastic–mostly young–fans relentlessly sang along to every song, pretty much word for word. And it was a relief that some old routines, like the opening “Eight Miles High” and the guitar-strapped “Bobbing for Apples” and “That Time”, haven’t been dropped.

The addition of beatbox gurus Reggie Watts and another friend, whose name I missed, Only Son (thanks shawnmac) was really enjoyable, and it brought pure fun to the third of the encore, “Hotel song”.

Stories from the show accompany the pictures:

It started pouring after Albert Hammond Jr.’s set, but the rain slowed down right before Regina went on, and picked up towards the end.

As soon as Regina sat at the piano after “Eight Miles High”, there were pleas for the piano to be turned. She was obstructed from the audience’s view for the most part. She said with regret, “It’s too big to be turned”.

“Hotel Song” was the last of the show’s encore, performed here a cappella.

Line for this show started early, and several fans travelled many miles to get here. Bridgette came from New Jersey. I heard some had come from Toronto.

As the line broke for those who had to pick up tickets, a messy situation emerged. Those who came somewhat early soon lost their spots when the turning line morphed into a blob. Attempts to re-create the line allowed those who’d come late to insert themselves towards the front.

Gentleman in blue cap was the first in the line, having arrived at noon directly from California particularly for the show, though doors opened only at 5:30PM.

Regina’s set was so good that the memory of Albert Hammond’s is all but faded. She’d promised to share Russian tricks of recovering from the rain after the show, but no magical treatments involving mittens and vodka were revealed.

Update: pictures from the opening set.

McCarren Pool,
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
August 15, 2008 (Happy Independence Day to India)

I went to see Port O’Brien at Union Hall after this. More on that in the next post.