Suzanne Vega has delivered an absolutely stunning musical experience on her 2018 Australian tour.
The focus in this setlist is on the two albums ‘Solitude Standing’ (1987) and ’99.9°F’ (1992) to mark the 30th and 25th anniversary of each release.
After performing the full albums at the first show in Wollongong a week earlier, the show was trimmed for the Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide performances, introduced as “selected highlights” by Suzanne.
The stories of the songs were as interesting as the songs themselves. Suzanne revealed that until the last song was recorded, ‘Solitude Standing’ was originally going to be called ‘Tom’s Diner’ but after writing and recording ‘Solitude Standing’ at the end of the sessions, ‘Solitude Standing’ took control.
I remember when ‘99.9°F’ was first released. The album didn’t seem to fit the era at the time but with time it sounds more relevant in 2018 than it did in 1992.
’99.9°F’ featured two tracks with Melbourne based guitarist Richard Pleasance, who rejoined Suzanne for the first time since he downed tools on the sessions to replicate his guitar parts on ‘In Liverpool’ and ‘When Heroes Go Down’. It was a treat only Melbourne experienced on this tour.
Suzanne’s actual guitarist is Gerry Leonard, a veteran of the Bowie band for the ‘Heathen’, ‘Reality’ and ‘The Next Day’ albums. Including Gerry in the band endorsed the quality Suzanne strived for in putting together her band.
Early days bass player Michael Visceglia was also back in the band for this tour and absolutely stole her Pretty In Pink hit (with Joe Jackson) ‘Left of Center’ as his own with just bass and vocals making all sounds for the song.
The encore was a mini-Greatest Hits including Suzanne’s first chart success ‘Marlene On The Wall’ and her DNA mix version of ‘Tom’s Diner’.
The Suzanne Vega show was a night of excellence in music. Real music fans appreciate hearing real music played by real musicians and this was the best of the best.
Suzanne Vega, Melbourne, 3 August 2018
Tom’s Diner (from Solitude Standing, 1987)
Luka (from Solitude Standing, 1987)
Ironbound / Fancy Poultry (from Solitude Standing, 1987)
In the Eye (from Solitude Standing, 1987)
Solitude Standing (from Solitude Standing, 1987)
Language (from Solitude Standing, 1987)
Gypsy (from Solitude Standing, 1987)
Wooden Horse (Caspar Hauser’s Song) (from Solitude Standing, 1987)
Rock in This Pocket (Song of David) (from 99.9F°, 1992)
Blood Makes Noise (from 99.9F°, 1992)
In Liverpool (from 99.9F°, 1992)
99.9 F° (from 99.9F°, 1992)
Fat Man & Dancing Girl (from 99.9F°, 1992)
(If You Were) In My Movie (from 99.9F°, 1992)
Bad Wisdom (from 99.9F°, 1992)
When Heroes Go Down (from 99.9F°, 1992)
As Girls Go (from 99.9F°, 1992)
Marlene on the Wall (from Suzanne Vega, 1985)
Left of Center (from Pretty In Pink soundtrack, 1986)
Tom’s Diner (DNA version) (single, 1990)
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