Rufus Wainwright Set to 'Quietly Rock' the Calvin
Ilana Novick
Issue date: 11/3/05 Section: Arts
The subject of much swooning and the object of critical affection since his 1998 self-titled debut album, Rufus "Gay Messiah" Wainwright is playing Northampton's Calvin Theatre this Friday night at 8 p.m. The son of troubadours Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle, Wainwright grew up surrounded by music. He sings of this in "Oh, What A World" off of his recent album "Want One;" "Why am I always on a train or a fast train?/Oh what a world my parents gave me/Always traveling." His sister Martha Wainwright recently released her first album, the name of which we cannot publish in a family newspaper.
His piano-based music is influenced by the cabarets and classic torch songs of the 1920s and 30s, as well as his own folky parents, updated for a modern audience. An immensely talented artist, his songs work as well live as they do on his albums- his melodramatic words and performing style fit the grandeur of the stage. He has been touring constantly since the releases of both "Want One" and "Want Two," the separately released halves of what was planned as a double album. Wainwright is one of the few performers who can convincingly appear in the soundtrack for a movie about a cartoon ogre (his version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was featured in "Shrek," but he's so damn cute that we can forgive him the misstep), while also singing about drugs and illicit sex.
Even if you don't enjoy the fey style that is Wainwright's trademark, one cannot help but be charmed by his hugely appealing stage presence, and self-deprecating stories about his exceedingly musical family. There is also always the equally charming opening act, OK Go.
See www.iheg.com for details on buying tickets.
His piano-based music is influenced by the cabarets and classic torch songs of the 1920s and 30s, as well as his own folky parents, updated for a modern audience. An immensely talented artist, his songs work as well live as they do on his albums- his melodramatic words and performing style fit the grandeur of the stage. He has been touring constantly since the releases of both "Want One" and "Want Two," the separately released halves of what was planned as a double album. Wainwright is one of the few performers who can convincingly appear in the soundtrack for a movie about a cartoon ogre (his version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was featured in "Shrek," but he's so damn cute that we can forgive him the misstep), while also singing about drugs and illicit sex.
Even if you don't enjoy the fey style that is Wainwright's trademark, one cannot help but be charmed by his hugely appealing stage presence, and self-deprecating stories about his exceedingly musical family. There is also always the equally charming opening act, OK Go.
See www.iheg.com for details on buying tickets.