REVIEW: Melissa Etheridge Brings An Endurant Legacy to Troy
05/06 @ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Photos by Tom Miller
“…what stood out even more than Etheridge’s strong vocals and intense guitar playing was her uplifting spirit, gracious attitude, and humility.”
“When I first started out, young fans would come up to me and say, ‘I love your music!’ Twenty years later, young fans would come up to me and say, ‘My parents love your music!’ Now they come up to me and say, ‘My grandparents love your music!’”
Those were the words of iconic musician Melissa Etheridge as she performed in front of a packed house at the historic Troy Savings Music Hall. The moment spoke to an illustrious career spanning more than 40 years, one that shows no signs of slowing down.
There were very few empty seats for the midweek show as fans of all ages filed into the hall. Few people stayed in them for very long, especially during the first part of the set, which included “Don’t You Want a Woman,” “Bring Me Some Water” / “No Souvenirs,” and “Matches.” Interspersed throughout the evening, Etheridge played new songs from her recently released album, Rise. Standouts included “Tomboy,” “To Be A Woman,” and the title track. Etheridge also debuted “The Other Side of Blue” live, a song recorded on the album as a duet with country star Chris Stapleton.
Of course, no Melissa Etheridge concert would be complete without a walk down memory lane. Those moments included “Chrome Plated Heart” and “Like the Way I Do” from her 1988 self-titled debut album, along with the hit singles “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window” from 1993’s Yes I Am.
As the evening drew to a close, what stood out even more than Etheridge’s strong vocals and intense guitar playing was her uplifting spirit, gracious attitude, and humility. Through numerous trials and tribulations, she always finds a way to embrace the positive. After more than four decades, Melissa Etheridge remains a positive presence, a respected role model, and an artist whose music continues to inspire.
