Natalie Merchant

From beginning to end I was mesmerized by the musical arrangement, the orchestra, the piano player and drums along with Natalie's amazing voice. Every song a hit from over 30 years of music.

Excellent! Love her so much. Sorry she wasn't feeling well. Fabulous voice. So much talent.

This was my first time to The Greek- but not my last. Sound quality was amazing and Natalie had us singing along to some of her hits. She admitted to having a cold but sounded great!

maybe the best concert i ever saw! natalies transformation of 19th century poetry to original music was totally unique and amazing. everyone likes to hear stories and she regaled the audience with 12 or so stories of the poets, their lives, and her connection with them. the array of instruments and the talent of all the musicians kept the audience captivated and riveted from beginning to end thank you natalie

After such a long musical dried up, Natalie brings a, literally, piece of art!!! Her performance was magnificense, I love the stories, pictures and of course the poems becoming lyrics in songs with such a diversity of rythms that it is just overwhelming. I bought the double album right at the spot, strongly recommendable, thanks Natalie, great music and performance.

To hear her wonderful voice fill a church venue was amazing! Had heard some of the songs a few years ago when she was still experimenting with them. Loved the finished product.

The concert was just unforgettable, the band exquisite,songs thoughtful and inspiring, I have just so loved everything from the first moment the show has started. Natalie is one of the few people that can get you into the mood and pool you in immediately, she creates a music niche you just jump into. Every song was so different but still part of the whole. Connecting the centuries via poems and today's music was so nice. It is so rare that you can connect immediately with the songs you didn't hear before. And what great stories and lives behind all the poems, so grateful that Natalie shared some of the stories with us. The venue is great for these intimate concerts, you really feel like you are part of the music. And, I do have to mention that I was relieved to hear that I felt right about banishing "avatar" from my dictionary. I can't wait to get the CD!

Natalie Merchant is an artist that will continue to raise the bar for any musician or artist. Her music was gorgeous and presented a mystical and telling link to many poets whose own inspiring and thoughtful work has been lost in the cultural chaos of today. Every song had a melodic root that will only inspire my children to think deeper. Thanks Natalie and all who collaborated!!!

Well, one thing is for sure, Natalie's voice is as incredible and unique as it ever was. I love this woman, I've been seeing her live way back in the days of 10,000 maniacs. I have to be honest though, while I like a good deal of her poem/songs, I wish the concert was a little more balanced of her new/old stuff. I also noticed her energy level was not quite the same as in the past, less intense stage dancing, and as far as her vocals, she didn't get crazy into carnival and use that wicked range in most of her songs as she has in the past. All in all, you can't go wrong with seeing her show, she's very personable and I love that she danced with the audience, very cool Natalie. You're still my fave.

Natalie's concert of her new album was so real and beautiful. The songs are true to her heart and soul. She is dramatic as usual and that is so addictive. She is honest and sincere. Her voice is heard and not buried by instruments. The accompaniements were beautiful. She put a lot of time and effort into learning as much as she could about the poets and writers of the original literary scholars. I just love Natalie and her talent. I could listen to her forever and never tire of hearing her beauty.

The show was amazing! Then again, Natalie could sing the phone book and I would attend. Since she left the Maniacs in 1993, Natalie has truly grown as an artist and been able to collaborate with so many diverse talents around the world. Her latest project "Leave Your Sleep" is six long and hard years spent on her behalf that are so worth it on her fans' end! Wow. She is brilliant and creative beyond her years. It's nice to have a success like Natalie who is able to introduce and teach her fans new genres of music and other worldly ideas. She is pure talent...and that word seems to be missing "these days" (ha ha) from 90 percent of the artists on tv and radio. I have honestly seen her live about 30 times over the years, and she only gets better! And...what a voice!

The opposite of commercial, Natalie Merchant's voice has an ability to wrap itself around the soul. This new collection of poem songs has obviously been a labor of love. Natalie you are wonderful. Thank you for a perfect night.

Having no idea what the new album consisted of, we were pleasantly surprised at the overall experience of the concert, even beyond the music. Natalie's voice is so great to listen to and setting it to poetry with interesting music and arrangements felt as much a literary journey as a musical one. We all loved it. And it looked like Natalie loved every moment of it too!

THE VOICE OF AN ANGEL; HOW BEAUTIFULLY SHE HAS WOVEN CLASSIC, ALMOST UNKNOWN POETRY TO MODERN MUSIC. A TRUE VISIONARY.

Natalie Merchant is a talented and brilliant artist. Her voice is rich and powerful, yet soft and gentle as an angel. She is a pleasure to watch as well as listen to. I go to many concerts and this was one of the best shows I ve seen. It was fun and educational and I could have listened for hours. I look forward to seeing her again . . .

Great singing, very entertaining stories although maybe a little too much talking in between songs. Natalie Merchant was obviously very dedicated to this project which showed and was fun to see.

I have seen Natalie Merchant several times - and she always putys on a great show. She is an engaging performer and has a great set of pipes. Sweet , gentle , strong , powerful with a beautifully pure tone. An amazing night spent with a unique and gifted artist. Thank you Natalie -- will treasure the few hours I got to spend with you .

I've seen Natalie Merchant perform about 8 or 9 times in NYC over the past 12-13 years...while she's often presented mesmerizing moments in which she seduces the audience with her vocal range, power, and control, and a sincere and initially subdued stage presence which metamorphoses as the concert progresses into an increasingly wild dervish and trance-like solipsism...while this has remained her general in-concert "m.o." over the years, some of the concerts in recent years have been a bit "flat" almost as if she were phoning it in and didn't want to be performing (e.g., Hiro ballroom in 2008)... Last night's concert, which was done in conjunction with the official release of her remarkable new album, seemed to bring out a much more energized (and lighter and happier, though a tad less wild) performer. Normally, like most concert goers, I generally want to hear the old standards with which I'm most familiar. After the first 2 or 3 songs tonight off of her new album, however, I didn't want to lose the sense she was building of time recaptured via her variegated musical resurrection of "dead poets". She did sing one or two standard "oldies" at the end. But by then, it was merely as an after-the-fact amuse bouche to what was a remarkable main course of fresh and evocative songs. I look forward to looking back 25 years from now to say I was there when this body of work was first "released" (as Natalie said last night) live to the public.

This was such a beautiful time listening to an extremely gifted voice and intelligent person. The venue was a perfect size. The creativity of Ms. Merchant's new work is mesmerizing.

Maybe because it was the release day and never got to listen to th new CD that it felt very slow, a lot of string instruments. She sounded as good as ever, and the venue was intimate with only 800 people. The music is very folksy. She only sang 2 or 3 older songs, Motherland, I think Life is Sweet and Carnival which was great. Then she finished with two songs of house carpenters daughter, not exactly leaving here audience wanting more. I have seen her about a dozen times and probably won't seek out another show this time around unless there is more of a mix or I learn to love the new CD after giving it more of a chance.

This was a great show. Natalie connects with her audience and it seems it's important to her that we do so. She thrives on everyone feeling the music. I have seen Natalie several times, One time at Town Hall a few years ago, She was moving and gooving with a chick she brought upon stage to dance with. I was sitting in fhe front row last night so I was hoping she would do the same, but that's ok. Her new ALBUM is great. I recommend that we all buy it. You can see that Natalie is a natural who feels her music. Gotta Love Natlie

This was an amazing show. What was particularly meaningful was the way Natalie Merchant provided context for each song through both a visual presentation of the poet and some stories about who they were and why she chose that particular poem. It really helped me as an audience member to appreciate the music more.

Natalie Merchant's Monday April 12th, 2010 performance at the NY Society for Ethical Culture was stunning. Her repertoire of poetry --set to songs was stunning and powerful. She gave social history and gave alittle bio on each poet. Educational, informative, and an overall fun evening. Every seat in the house was great. The venue was beautiful and the overall experience was intimate and casual. The only disappointment was that she only sang 3 of her classic songs from her previous albums; Tigerlily, Ophelia, and Motherland . Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the concert.

She was fabulous as was the venue chosen. She was engaging and her voice the same as it has always been. Too bad that the sound guys didn't realize that the band tended to drown her out, making it hard to decipher just what she was singing at times. But the intimacy of the venue and her performance still made it more than worth the ticket price. And thanks for the extended curtain call ... it was nice to hear some of the older hits!

The kick off to Natalie Merchant's latest tour to promote her new CD was absolutely incredible. She is witty and engaging and real. Her voice goes right to my soul.

The best part of the concert was after the encore. Natalie just performed too many songs from the new album. Although she did it in a good humored way, the hard sell for the new album was not funny. People enjoy the old familiar songs. The visuals of the poets, her informative comments, the great back up music, and Natalie's dancing made all the time devoted to the new songs tolerable. Without the long encore, the concert would have been a major disappointment..

Played lots from new album, encore was some older material. 800 people in the arena, very nice show.

Fantastic show displaying talents and depths of Natalie and the musicians that she assembled.

I saw her in Spokane right after Tiger Lily. She was wonderful then, and she is wonderful now. they venue is perfect for her, but the lines to get in are a huge pain. There's got to be a better way to get that moving faster with more stations etc. But to Natalie... "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Thank you."

A very slow first half to this show with new introspective material. Finished strong but took way too long to get there.

Natalie's voice simply gets better with time. Deeper, richer, more nuanced. She is my absolute favorite vocalist of all time.

Natalie was incredible, in terms of voice, charisma and energy. The band was awesome, especially the guitarist. The adaptations of some songs to be palyed with the string quartet were memorable. I enjoyed the concert thoroughly

This was my first time attending a Natalie Merchant show & she was absolutely fantastic. This was her '3 Decades of Song' Summer Tour for 2017 -- I had found out about her appearance too late to immediately grab the tickets of my choice, but just a few days prior to the event I was able to pick-up tickets within the first few rows of reserved seating (probably due to a few tickets that were released for one reason or another). I was really reluctant to have to miss the show because Natalie doesn't tour as often as some artists, so I was thrilled to get the chance to experience her live arrangements. Natalie was on the road promoting her recent 10-Disc deluxe box set titled, 'The Natalie Merchant Collection.' This collection contained her entire studio discography, a deluxe album booklet, and 2 discs devoted to new, re-worked & rare recordings. Her setlist for the evening was perfect, a true time capsule of sorts -- something for everybody from each album or time period. Natalie even threw in a few '10,000 Maniacs' tunes as well. I would definitely consider myself to be a concert junkie, as I've been fortunate enough to go to 5+ shows in this year alone. I appreciate a large range of music & there are a few who I choose to see on a regular basis if possible. To name a few: Ani DiFranco, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey, Shawn Colvin, Tori Amos, Joan Osborne, Britney Spears, Michelle Branch). Out of all of the shows I've seen, Natalie's performance at the Chateau easily lands a spot in the top 5. Natalie Merchant is a gifted performer and has a great wit + personality; she is also extremely articulate and giving with her audiences in a way that I haven't seen before. AMAZING! Note: One thing I have to mention that annoys me beyond belief is when some users give the experience a bad review based on their disappointment in the setlist. Another review of the evening's performance was given only 1 star courtesy of user 'Jeep69.' I have to say that this puzzles me because the review suggests that she only played 2 well-known songs & that nobody could get into the music because of their lack of familiarity. I don't know what performance this user was watching but judging from all of the stellar comments about the show, this person must have been in another universe. Like I mentioned, Natalie performed a handful of songs from each album & while some of the songs had new arrangements, there was not 1 song in her entire setlist that I was unaware of. I think it's safe to say that any reviews based on her 'lack of performing hits' must really be unfamiliar with her catalogue. What were some of these people listening to? lol

Great show. People who want to stand up should be on side. Ushers should make others sit down

So much respect for Natalie. Her voice is better than ever before - the proud, strong mother of verse, and her enthusiasm and grace is ever present. Thank you, is all I have to say.

My fiancee and I had a fantastic time, from the time we got to the winery and had a little vino with cheese and salami, till Natalie walked off after her encore. Her voice was just as golden as it was from her beginnings. She hasn't lost a beat and is great fun to watch as well as listen to.

Been a while since Natalie and I connected through her music. Was nice to be reminded that great music, writing and showmanship still exist in a world of "one hit wonders!" Keep on doing what you do best, Natalie; staying true to pure sound and lyrics. Thanks for reminding me of all the future music to come from your amazing talent! *don't worry about your garage being filled with CDs; we took a few off your hands!

I've been going to see the dear NM since 10,000 maniacs in the 80's. Her weird twirling stage presence hasn't changed much but her appearance has. Her natural grey hair is down below her butt and is quite a statement when she came on stage. The remarkable thing about the show were the arrangements of her songs played by a world class real band....and of course her delivery of pivotal vocals. The strings brought much to the tension building of many songs and at one point I even cried during Life is Sweet. I loved this show. She brought on some guy to pitch his activism and this was not a bother. It was a long evening of song and I loved every song...except the Motherland stuff. This period in her career has not been appealing to me, so it was a good time to go use the facilities and check out the merch.

This was my first time at Chateau Ste Michelle and wasn't fully prepared for the lawn experience. That said, Ms. Merchant sounded good and sang a few 'standards'. Overall, I wasn't sure what to expect but it was quite enjoyable evening and the crowd was into - couple sing alongs. Also got to sit close to the side of the stage and saw Ms. Merchant up close a couple times! The strings section was good as well.

Natalie Merchant is a kind, thoughtful person. She was amazing onstage and played a long uninterrupted set. She took us through the musical history of 10 albums. Great to hear the variety!

the show was quite intimate. She was a bit under the weather but powered through. Many a forgotten song sprang to life on stage that night. Natalie blessed us with 4 or 5 of her greatest hits. Just before intermission a number of attendees got a handshake from Natalie. Overall a great and mellow show. Be sure to stay for the encore no matter how late you think it is. it is worth it to stay. They do ask that we kindly not take photos during the show.

Natalie was exceptional. I witnessed a great artist at work with what she loves to do, connect with people through the gifts she was born with and works to continually refine. I hope she returns in the not to distant future.

Natalie has yet to disappoint! I'm a product of the 70's and 80's and would loved to have heard more of her older music but understand that's not what sells box sets. I've seen Natalie twice before, both in more intimate settings, and greatly prefer those concerts as everyone isn't deciding whether or not they're going to sit, stand or dance for the duration of the concert. In my opinion, she thrives in more intimate settings such as smaller music halls where I've seen her before.

I was very disappointed w/ Natalie Merchant's concert. The Venue of course is always fun; however she only played 2 songs anyone recognized; the crowd just sat and didn't even get into the music because they didn't know the songs. I would not recommend spending the money or the time for this tour if you are looking to hear some of her more popular music.

Great, great, great. Loved her energy and the band. Have loved her forever but never got to see her until now. Worth the money! Worth the trip!

Loved it. Hoping to one day meet this beautiful talented lady,

From the first note she sang you knew this was going to be an awesome show. The singing and music outstanding! Her banter was funny and she tried to connect to audience members. The one thing that spoiled it for me was when she would stop in the middle of a song to talk to an audience member or to the crowd. This really hindered the flow of the song. Imagine hearing your favorite song and she stops it to make a joke about late comers being seated. I found out at the concert that she was trying to push 2 new albums included in her box set, but I was really hoping she would play more of her older stuff being billed as 30 years of her music. Over all it was a great concert andI would highly recommend it.

Natalie Merchant took me to a lovely place this past Tuesday night. A night filled with love and compassion. This woman is talented beyond belief!

Great show, I had a great time...sound was mixed well.

We spent a spectacular evening in San Francisco with Natalie Merchant. The music, her stories, and back up orchestra were all spot-on! Highly recommend seeing her in concert if you get a chance...well-worth the price!

Natalie Merchant was enchanting and graceful. She has a way of catering to her fans that leaves them loved and wanting more. Her dancing is like a ballerina yet she can be bold. She is down to earth and this was such a magical night for me. Thank you, Natalie.

keep in mind i took my wife who is a big Natalie fan, i like her music so i was ok with going, boy she was amazing, she had a great band with a 3 piece string section, played most 3 hours and even though she has a sinus infection, she sounded great. she was having a great time, and the fans were having a great time. she even met some family she didn't know during the show. it was a great night!

She was amazing!!! Even though she was battling a sinus infection, she was on point.

We sat in the mezzanine and the sound was booming and horrible. So can't tell if it were that or she's no longer the lyrical singer we loved, left early.

Seeing Natalie Merchant at Copley Symphony Hall was a night I will never ever forget!!!

Good but not great. She was lackluster compared to normal. I blame it on her cold and would rather her focus on health and reschedule when feeing better.

Beautiful singing voice. Exceptional. Difficult to remember anyone singing more beautifully. She dances very well and moves gracefully like a refined rock and roll ballerina. Wonderful to see her in such great physical shape. Refreshing that she is not obsessed with fake appearance of youth when she is gorgeous just as she stands. Supporting musicians lull the audience with expertise and elegance. The song choices are a bit self indulgent. She plays mostly folksy orchestral stuff rather than the popular hits the fans love. For example, she did not sing "Because the Night," "Trouble Me," "Kind & Generous" or "Jealousy." Also, fools in the audience improperly felt it was appropriate to yell in between songs. She encouraged this obnoxious behavior by asking for requests.

There was no warm-up act which we liked. She started the show just ten minites late which we liked. The show lasted for three hours with only one 20 minites break. She has a great stage personality, interacted with the audience, a very quick wit and a refreshing sense of humor. She sang numerous songs from her new CD along with the older sons all done very well. Besides the usual instruments in a band, she had a section of stings We had an enjoyable evening. Because the audience was older and the nature of the music, the audience relmained seated for almost the entire preformance, which was greatly appreciated.

Natalie Merchant is a phenomenal song writer and singer! Her voice seems to get better with age. Wish there were more shows to go to locally!

Another solid performance by my favorite singer/songwriter.

Her personality was evident from the start, she is a true professional. Natalie was even better than I'd expected. I love her style and her big and booming voice. She can rock the dance floor too!

The weather was perfect. The sunset was beautiful. I am a big Natalie Merchant fan. She was in great form. She was very engaging and open to the crowd. Her sinewy voice soared and surged, while the music captivated a crowd that seemed to have grown with Merchant over the years. Some of the songs moved me to tears.

We drove a good 4 hours to see Natalie at the most beautiful venue I have ever seen, Bethel Woods. The show started around 8:10. Natalie was in fine form and spirits. She interacted with the crowd, some beautiful hidden gems within her program, and the encore was divine. To those who complain about her slow songs and being boring, get that earwax out of your ear and listen closely to those words. I am not a big fan of her poetry songs, however, the element of a symphony accentuates those songs with a new spirit. Natalie Merchant is a wonderful performer, I have seen her many, many times over the years. This show, by far, ranks the best one I have ever seen. There is some great new material being performed for her upcoming album.

Just a great show by Natalie Merchant. With the Hudson VAlley Philharmonic behind her in the best venue anywhere - Bethel Woods

I have been a huge Natalie Merchant fan since the late 1980's. I bought In My Tribe when it was first released and followed her with the 10,000 Maniacs and when she went solo. I had recently heard her singing voice had changed and not for the better. You can dismiss all the rumors. She has a phenomenal singing voice today, as she had had all her career. She played a nice eclectic collection of songs ranging from her early Maniac days (Verdi Cries) to several of her newest songs. It was just a great performance and very memorable. She started at 8pm and finished after 10:30pm. She first played with the entire pops orchestra then did a set with her two musicians, a guitarist and a keyboard player. She answered several encores to a loving crowd that simply would not let her go home. And it was clear she was loving the evening too. She performed with energy, passion and enthusiasm. All in all, a great concert. If you like Natalie, I would try to get out to see her on this summer tour.

What an incredible venue and amazing show. Wouldn't have changed a thing.

Loved the close intimate setting. Natalie was a little under the weather due to food poisoning but still put on an amazing show. Liked the new poetry songs but Loved when she came back out and sang some of her older music! I've seen Natalie about 10 times and am never disappointed!! She is truly talented! Absolutely astounding performer!! The only con of this event was that there were no center isles, so when someone had to get up for a drink or break they had to disturb the entire row! Over all, great event!! Looking forward to seeing Natalie again!!!

Natalie let us all know she was on date #32 of her tour after starting the show asking what day of the week it was and barely remembering she was in "North Carolina somewhere". Folks, it was not an unprofessional show, most of it was her new album of 18th and 19th century bad poets with their sonnets set to mildly interesting acoustic music, well played but low energy mostly. Certainly there were some highlights and she threw out a few chestnuts to the audience at the end, but this wasn't a home run, it was a base hit. Sorry, can't recommend her this tour unless you REALLY REALLY like the new CD.

A good chunk of the concert was her new album, but then she came back out and did about 5 of her older songs. I was surprised (and happy) to see how many people were captured by Natalie's new stuff. Natalie's voice is still one of the best out there! Highly recommended

Natalie put on a very nice show. She still has the vocal range that she had 15 years ago. This is the first time I've seen her. And I really enjoyed her humor and her general perspective on the important things in life. Right off the bat, she explained her absence from the stage. That being due to the birth of her child whom apparently had a profound effect on her life for the past seven years. The Broward Center For Perfoming Arts was the perfect venue for her show. It was raining lightly, and I was gald it was indoors. And the acoustics were perfect. The show was light, melodic and just a real pleasue in general.

My daughter and I have attended every concert we could since the "Ophelia" days and this was by far the best. The poems and the history she shared were incredible and her ease and personable demeanor with the audience was so much fun. Please come back to Phoenix, Natalie!

Hands down the best concert I've ever been to, and I've been to plenty of concerts in 40 years! What an amazing talent she is. That voice. . . WOW! We were speechless by the end of the show. Please make San Diego a regular stop on the tour!

My partner and I saw Natalie Merchant's show at the Japanese American Center in LA in May and loved it, so we knew we had to get tickets when we heard she'd be at the Orpheum too. As literary people (my degree's in English Lit, my partner has a journalism degree) and music lovers, we really appreciate her current foray into poetry about, for, and by children. I love that she's following her passions. Plus, the poetry is NOT "childish" as the words and her commentary hit upon adult themes of death, love, and sex \u2014 and of course her music and singing make it sublime. She's drawn from many musical traditions to find the right sound for each poem, and her band orchestrated it quite well. After 20+ years of performing, Natalie's voice is still strong and powerful (no smoker's cough or gravelly throat here, trust me!) I'm absolutely floored by her talent. Oh, and she's hilarious. Her little asides here & there about the bawdy and fascinating lives of the poets AND reading Edward Lear in a Katharine Hepburn voice had me rolling (plus my partner just about died, because Natalie and Katharine are probably her two favorite celebrities ever). A couple of other notes: the Orpheum was the PERFECT venue for Merchant and her band -- a group of 6-8 veteran performers on guitars, banjo, saxophone, strings, accordion, and keyboard. They filled up the room with sound and the acoustics were top-notch. I was worried about the attention spans of the audience (because I've heard she's had issues with rowdy "greatest hits only!!" fans at other venues) but by and large, the audience seemed warm, attentive and appreciative here in Los Angeles. Oh, and it was especially touching when Natalie played two songs about LA during her two encores, and ended with "Kind and Generous." Actually, those are good words to sum up Merchant and her band -- kindly generous with three energetic hours of beautiful music, laughter, and good vibes.

Natalie was so fun and amazing! Her voice was unreal, so beautiful and clear, and the theater was perfect for the sound. I wish I could see her perform every nigh!

The show rocked inspite of the windy conditions. Natalie was a bit spooked by the wind (so she said) but she went on without a hitch. Loved it! Maryhill Winery is a great place for an up close and personal venue.......

Natalie blessed the west coast with her presence on Wednesday night in Oakland at the newly remolded Fox Theater. This tour is based on her latest new album - Leave Your Sleep. a collection of Nursery Rhymes and Children's bed time stories set to new music. Each musical piece is adapted to the poem/short story taken from interesting literary figures in history. Some famous some obscure. The music styles range from traditional Chinese to Brooklyn Jewish suburbs. At the center of these gems is a haughtily familiar voice that guides through the stories. The PowerPoint presentation was cute. The pictures, the commentary and the musical experience were at time hypnotizing and deep. Other times it was just plain silly. The second half of the show was to played to the paying fans who paid to hear pieces from collection of songs spanning 25 years. She did not disappoint the fans. We were smiling and seat dancing by the end of the show. She is a fascinating performer and very charismatic. The Fox venue is proving to be a perfect place for an intimate setting. Her stripped down band gave us the ability to really hear these songs without a lot of the typical window dressings that make up music in these digital days. Please note that she was not comfortable with the fans taking photographs and gave a few patrons a scolding for videotaping with the phones. Don t miss this show when it rolls into your town!

Natalie bashed the locals for starters and complained about the wind in the wind surfing capital of he world. Then she sang music based on poetry for kids. The music and vocals were great but the crowded wanted to hear her old school works, 10,000 maniacs etc. Not many poets in the Gorge.

Musicianship was incredible. A bit disappointed that so much time was spent on her new nursery rhyme songs. We wanted to hear more oldies. Also thought they could have benefitted by having a drummer. Yeah,... no drummer. Weird, eh? But overall it was good. Our northwest winds seemed to bother Natalie. Great venue; Maryhill Winery.

This was a killer concert. She played for more than 2:45 including an 8 or 9 song encore covering mostly 10,000 Maniac-era songs. Her voice and range are as powerful as ever. She danced and sang and interacted with her audience. She is a great entertainer as well as a great songwriter. A significant portion of the original set was from her new album "Leave Your Sleep." A few songs from Tiger Lily, Ophelia and Motherland were sprinkled in the set list. Her band is terrific and the acoustics at Maryhill are exceptional. I go to a lot of concerts and this is the best one I've been to this year. Easily worth the 4 hour drive to get there.

This was one of the best concerts I've seen. The venue is great, of course. Natalie did a large selection from her new double disc "Leave Your Sleep," and some of the live versions sounded a little more lively than they did recorded. Her encore was a full 30 minutes of some of her best hits, including some Maniacs songs that she claimed to have not performed in about 10 years. By that point, everyone was on their feet, dancing, and singing along. This is my first time seeing her live, and I'm so thankful I had the chance. Her songs are great, and her voice is just as mesmerizing (if not moreso) live.

The show started a little late, and when Natalie did come out, she seemed a bit subdued. Apparently, the wind had caught their video screen and taken it down. Also, I'm wondering if the wind was causing her some allergies or something. In any event, this only lasted a couple of songs, and she seemed to get into it more as the set moved along. After some of her older folk songs, she moved into selections from her newest Album, Leave Your Sleep. She danced and jigged her way through many of the songs. "Ebenezer Bleezer" was played a little more up-tempo than the cd recording, which worked a little better in my opinion. The crowd seemed to like this song and "Calico Pie" the best. After saying good-bye for the first time, her encore set lasted a good hour. She included some of her solo favorites ("Wonder" and "Kind and Generous") as well as some favorites from her 10,000 Maniacs days. I was going to give this only 4 stars, as she seemed to have a slow start. However, after I got thinking about it, I realized that she gave a concert almost 3 hours in length, and had us singing along for much of the way. She interacted with the crowd several times. This is one of the best concerts I've been to in quite some time, and it was refreshing to see a star from the 80's and 90's breaking out to do completely new material, instead of just playing the old stuff.

When I spontaneously bought my ticket to see Natalie Merchant last night, I was expecting a fabulous concert of all her hits, and maybe a few back-of-the-drawer test runs thrown in. What I didn't realize is that this concert was an homage to American and British children's poets from the last two centuries. Ms. Merchant has released a new album entitled "Leave Your Sleep" that features twenty-six songs that she wrote featuring children's poems as the lyrics. They range from bluesy, to jazzy, to country, to rock-and-roll, with everything in between. Accompanying her on this tour is an eight piece collection of amazing musicians that are as fun as they are talented. Natalie was playing off of them all night, especially with her complaints about the lack of oxygen in the Mile Hi City. And I was thrilled to see her still dance around the stage in the bohemian manner that I remember. The audience delighted to an additional set of her oldies as an encore to the show. Everyone in attendance received their money's worth. The only complaint I have was with the venue...the box seats at the Ellie are horrific! Never buy them!

The new album is great and Natalie did a great job at presenting information about the writers in addition to the actual musical performance. Her voice is amazing and she did not disappoint. Great choice of songs and two encores! She had such stage presence and fabulous interaction with the audience. If her touring schedule coincided with an upcoming trip to the west coast I'd go see her again. Others I know that attended the show were also blown away with how great a performance it was.

I confess I wanted to hear Candy everybody wants , These are days and Thank you more than The Janitor s Boy\u2026 Maybe this should have been better advertised (as in "Natalie will present a conceptual concert based 99% on material from her new record"). But other than the natural awkwardness you feel when listening to two hours of new material, her voice is as always unbelievable and her band is excellent. All in all, a great concert, I think, although even Natalie knows that on the encore (where she played a couple songs from her previous phases), people were way more enthusiastic, as expected\u2026

Natalie was nothing short of amazing. She showcased her new album, but did several oldersongs as what I would call a second set.

Absolutely one of the best performances I've ever attended! She played a selection from her new CD, Leave Your Sleep, and then nearly an entire 2nd show of her older, classic music. Her voice never sounded better and she is always entertaining. This is a show not to be missed.

Natalie Merchant tangoed, hula'ed and contra-danced her way through her concert last night. Her band of eight included the fiddles of blue grass and the oboe of big bands and folk guitar with an Asian beat. You never knew what would appear next. Her topic was children's poetry from the 1800's to the present, set to whatever music suited. It was an educational night, with a slide show to teach about the poetry and the poets. But most remarkably, Natalie Merchant: she sings with her whole body- she not only dances to the beat, but even when her body is relatively quiet, her arms and fingers undulate throughout. She is beautiful, impish and sexy all at the same time; and her voice and songs reverberate all of that and all of her. This is a seven year project that must have begun with the birth of her first child. It's a study which of what has entertained and sustained children and their parents for generations. It's a study that comes alive with Merchant's voice, strong and sweet like the best of a story given to a child.

She came onstage,dressed in simple black,hair tied back. She spoke softly as she gave a short history of the Authors and Poets, in a witty, captivating way,then performed their works she had put to Music..Natalie style. Backed by 2 longtime guitarists,a cello,violin,banjo,2 horns ,piano and standing bass player,she blossomed onstage..untying her hair and dancing to EVERY note..making you feel the music. Her voice, the same unique Natalie Merchant sound.. She cast the time limitation to the wind,and played on,including songs we love,like Carnival,and the Letter.. I didnt want for it to end.. I left the show with a smile on my face, and no ringing in my ears...I only wish I had attended ALL the NYC shows..truly an AMAZING performance..Blessings Natalie.. and "Thank You for giving Me one of the Best Times of my Life"... A MUST SEE PERFORMANCE!

Compared to all other popular musicians, she has no peer. Compared to her own high standards, her show was low energy and even a bit sleepy at times

Music selection was flat in first half. Needed to change it up with happier beat! Boring. But yes indeed her voice is so unique! Nothing like it!

Even with a sinus infection she sounded amazing. The band was awesome and the venue was perfect.

Her voice was so hauntingly beautiful that I felt so emotional as she started the show. I noticed the woman across the aisle...tears streaming as she was so moved. It was such a diverse crowd and it seems that everyone enjoyed the 3 Decades of Song. I was also surprised at how amazingly strong her voice was, even with a cold. One thing that should be addressed...there were no photos or videos allowed. I think that this is ridiculous in this day and age.

The entire show was awesome! She played for nearly 3 hours.... with a short intermission. Her lyrics are so heartfelt... I was literally teary eyed during some of her new songs.

Natalie Merchant gave a stellar performance at the Greek Theater - in spite of having a cold! She started on time, really only took a couple short breaks and played a wide variety of her songs until 11 PM. Her voice was on point and she was engaging and very entertaining. Loved her dancing and being completely in sync with the music. Thank you, Natalie, for performing for us in spite of being 'under the weather'. What a treat!

Natalie played a lot of songs that nobody knew and not a lot of her most popular songs. Why she didn't sing San Andreas Fault while we were sitting right on that fault, I will never know. I was so hoping she would play My Beloved Wife, but did not. Towards the end of her first set, I didn't recognize a single song and the audience didn't seem to either. Just really expected more from her.

Natalie put on a great show and really gave you your money's worth. She performed two 1:10 sets with an intermission between. The Greek Theatre is a great place to watch a show. Comfortable temperatures, great views from all seats, and a well organized public transportation set up for getting you to and from the show quickly. I had never been here before, but found the remote lots and bus system great for easy access. Lots of vendors for getting food, alcohol or whatever you desire. Natalie had a cold, but was a trooper and her voice was amazingly strong (particularly for being sick). If you get a chance to catch one of her shows on this tour, do it.

Great Concert- fabulous variety of songs. Her voice was incredible in spite of cold. Loved the mix of strings, piano and guitar. Natalie was perfect. Love the Greek and need to get back there again soon.

Amazing live. Loved the set list, and the string section was an especially nice addition. Everyone needs to see this show

While Natalie Merchant still has a great voice and was a trooper under the strain of a bad cold, her playlist was extremely disappointing. She only played 1 of her big hits. Diehards must have loved the B tracks, however the average fan like me, pays to see the songs they know, loved, and made a name for the artist. I'm sure all the other legends are sick of playing those songs too, but they do it because that is what got them to where they are. The show was dull and lacked the energy we loved from the old days.

I'm a fan and her voice was incredible even with a cold, but I question her decision to start the show with ten ballads in a row. The tempo picked up in the second set and she warmed up to the audience, sharing jokes and such, but as a whole it wasn't a compelling performance.