Melissa Etheridge at the Chicago Theater, Aug. 28, 2001
Lesbian and gay concertgoers in Chicago had their hands full the last week of August when two icons performed multiple concert dates in the city. Madonna, the senior by three years, performed two dates. Melissa Etheridge, an out, proud 40-year-old lesbian singer/songwriter, went one better by performing for three nights at the Chicago Theater.
Melissa Etheridge and Madonna performed at separate venues in the Windy City last week. Etheridge pics by Vern Hester, Madonna by Jennifer Williams
The screen that hung towards the center of the stage, at the beginning of the Etheridge concert Aug. 28, contained a black-and-white still photo of the Chicago Theater marquee, announcing Etheridge's dates. As the lights in the theater went down, the screen came to life as a camera moved south on State Street to the backstage entrance of the theater. We were then led, through corridors and stairways, to a dressing room where Etheridge dressed for her show. We then followed her on stage, where her entrance was met with thunderous and enthusiastic applause.
Having only previously seen Etheridge perform as part of the multi-performer Equality Rocks concert in Washington, D.C., I was excited about seeing her in the role of headliner. For the most part, I was very impressed. Wearing embossed black leather pants, black cowboy boots, a white cowboy shirt—embroidered with roses—over a black tank top ( emblazoned with the word "Freak" ) , Etheridge strutted across the large stage, in complete control of her turf. She assured the crowd that even though they would be seeing only her on the "big old stage" that she would do the best to fill it. With her animated facial expressions and a sincere desire to please the audience, she kept her word.
Performing without a backing band, and playing a variety of guitars and a piano, Etheridge's solo acoustic renditions of her beloved tunes emphasized both the blues and folk qualities of the songs. This was especially true with the first two songs of her set, "Come To My Window" and "Ain't It Heavy." Her rapport with the rapt audience was also amazing to witness. When she told the crowd that, as a Midwesterner, she loved Chicago because it was "like the Midwest ( but ) with taste," the roar in response was nearly deafening.
Stand-out numbers included songs from her new album Skin, such as "Down To One," "It's Only Me," "I Want To Be In Love," and "Lover Please," and crowd-pleasing favorites including "I Want To Come Over," "Yes I Am," "You Can Sleep While I Drive," "If I Wanted To," "Bring Me Some Water," a dramatic rendition of "Scarecrow," and "The Letting Go" and her breathtaking cover of Joan Armatrading's "The Weakness In Me," both performed by Etheridge at the piano.