I was just 14 years old when Live released Throwing Copper. I was just beginning to become an angsty and obnoxious teen, and the raw energy of songs like “I Alone,” ‘Selling the Drama,” and the monster hit “Lightening Crashes” struck a raw nerve. That sort of musical mark leaves an impression that never goes away. Last night I took a trip back to that period of my life, and saw Ed (or Eddie as he’s calling himself these days) Kowalczyk do his acoustic thing at the Enmore.
But before Ed there was Leena, an earnest and authentic Aussie singer-songwriter. There was nothing outstanding about her, no flash or frills. But her performance showed that you don’t need any of that when you’ve got good songs. She performed them in acoustic mode, in keeping with the evening’s theme. Stripped back to simply a guitar or keyboard, we could focus on her words and beautiful voice. While many chattered noisily at the bar, the seated audience were captivated. Oh how I appreciate a crowd content to listen.
Just like Leena, Ed reinforced that idea that you don’t need a big band, multimedia screens, or flying pigs if you’ve got the goods. In fact, his show may have been richer for the lack of bells and whistles. I’d seen Live play twice in my life, but never quite like this. Perhaps it was the intimate surrounds of the Enmore, a world away from the entertainment centres. Perhaps it was the stripped back acoustic style. Perhaps Ed’s just in a really good place these days. But it has never been quite this good.
Ed seemed at peace and genuinely happy to spend his evening with us. He seemed very open, spontaneous, laughing and joking with the audience members and encouraging us to sing, dance, become part of it all. There’s something special about rising to your feet, united with everyone else in the room “standing up for love.”
The set was a delight. After seven albums, I didn’t expect to hear all my favourites from Throwing Copper, or “Turn My Head” from Secret Samadhi, or both “The Beauty of Grey” and “Pain Lies on the Riverside” from Mental Jewelry. I was thrilled to hear anything from Mental Jewelry, that sleeper first album, at all. “Supernatural,” the Ed Chesnutt cover from the 1995 MTV Unplugged set, was another great surprise.
After three encores Ed closed the night with another cover, Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.” It was a fitting end to an evening which really felt like a coming together. Live may be on hiatus, but Ed’s keeping these songs alive in the best possible way. He tells us he’ll be back. His return can’t come soon enough.
Image source: own photo