A musical artist does not need light shows and theatrics to entertain. Suzanne Vega proved this Sunday evening at the Old Town School of Music.
Vega performs without fanfare or props, but her voice retains the rich quality of her twenties and thirties. At 65, she is still going strong. She will release a new album next month and performed the second of two shows Sunday evening at the Old Town School of Folk Music.
Ms. Vega sang and played rhythm guitar, accompanied by Gerry Leonard on lead guitar. The two were enough to fill the sold-out venue with excellent sounds. But, halfway through the set, they were joined onstage by Stephanie Winters, playing her black cello (I've never seen a cello that color), who added richness to the arrangements.
Her stories between songs were nearly as entertaining as the music. Vega joked that she began this midwestern tour in Rhode Island, telling the crowd: "They were surprised, as well." She told the story of a boy she met in her teens while they both worked as a camp counselor. At summer's end, Suzanne gave him a poem that later became the song "Gypsy." Years later, the two reconnected when the boy heard another of her songs, recognized their story in the lyrics and sent her flowers after a concert. The two remain friends today.
The tour was titled "Old Songs, New Songs, and Other Songs," which is exactly what she delivered. She began with many old favorites: "Marlene on the Wall," "99.9," and "Small Blue Thing," before playing a few numbers from her upcoming album; then closed the set with her hits "Luka" and "Tom's Diner." Other songs included a cover of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side," which she explained "No one else would touch" for a tribute album recorded after the rocker's death. She also surprised us with the Ramones-inspired "Rats" and her response to Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me, Babe" - "Chambermaid," a song told from the point of view of Dylan's jilted lover.
As much as I have enjoyed listening to Suzanne Vega's albums over the years, she is much better in person.