JULIETTE LEWIS, CAT POWER & THE PRETENDERS: Summerstage Central Park NYC

Yesterday afternoon I skipped out of work early and headed down to central park on the hottest day of the year here in NYC. I soaked up the sun for a while, then before I knew it there was movement and a race was on to front row! There was JULIETTE LEWIS in an incredible costume, rocking out from the very first song! She only had thirty minutes (far to short) but she made the best of it singing several new songs including 'Suicide Dive Bombers' and 'Hard Loving Woman' from her new album Terra Incognita. She delighted me with a couple old ones from her Licks days 'Pray For The Band Latoya' and 'Sticky Honey.' I was left dying for a bit of 'Hot Kiss' and 'You're Speaking My Language' though!



Just a couple songs in and Juliette was over the barrier and into the audience! Just as I was deciding whether to give up my spot at the front and run over to where she was, low and behold there she was heading towards me! She charged through the audience grabbed a random guy and danced for a second, headed back the other way and leaped back onto the stage! I loved it all, she has an amazing stage presence and rocks hard, I cannot wait to see more from her! (Helloooo NYC show Sept 17th at the Fillmore!)



Next up was CAT POWER. She has a wonderful voice which I greatly enjoy, but after the energy that was Juliette Lewis and knowing the energy that was coming next, I felt her set could have been shorter. In fact I think she should have been on first, we could have sat and lounged then leapt up and started dancing for Juliette followed by the Pretenders!



It seemed to me that Cat was not entirely comfortable being on stage, she had a no photo rule and she tugged at her Tshirt and played around with her pocket incessantly. I found her endearing but I felt she would have been better suited to a lounge type atmosphere.


(Thanks Brooklyn Vegan for this pic)
Then it was time for a quick set change and THE PRETENDERS I swear this band gets better and better, It's just insane! Chrissie tore through classics and new stuff from Break Up The Concrete ( which went down well due to the fact that its quality stuff, people were there for the hits but the new stuff got a great recepetion.

Some of the stand out performances for me were Night In My Veins, during which this wind came out of nowhere and started blowing the stage apart and it threatened to rain, at which point everyone roared with delight due to it still being sooo hot at past 9 because we were dancing up a storm.... The night really was in my veins at that moment! 'I'll Stand By You' which is one of my favorite songs ever was another stand out, as was 'Precious' which I'm not all that familiar with but loved in this live context, 'Mystery Achievement' and my old favorites 'Brass in Pocket' and 'Don't Get Me Wrong.'

Chrissie is still on top form, brilliant guitarist, remarkable voice and some awesome high kicks and she had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand. I was once again amazed at how her voice still sounds the same after all these years. Truly one of the best performers ever.



Pretenders Set List

Break Up the Concrete
Message of Love
Love's a Mystery
Kid/The Nothing Maker/Rosalee
My City Was Gone
Angel of the Morning
Back on the Chain Gang
Almost Perfect
The Last Ride
Don't Get Me Wrong
Thumbelina
Don't Cut Your Hair
Night in My Veins
Precious
Boots of Chinese Plastic
Encore:
I'll Stand By You
Brass in Pocket
Mystery Achievement

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