AUTHOR: M. DATE: 9:09:00 PM ----- BODY:

Last night we went to hear Erin Mckeown with Melissa Ferrick. Erin was the real draw. I. introduced me to her music right after we met in 2000. This woman is amazing - her voice sounds like she should have been born in the 20's. She's an incredible song-writer. I've seen her live at least 8 times and she's never less than a phenomenal performer. But Melissa. Oh, Melissa. I was introduced to Melissa's music in college, and fell in love. Her music was meaningful to me in that way that music is meaningful when you're 20. And it got even more meaningful to me when I broke up with ex-girlfriend #2 and played "The Stranger" so many times on repeat that my housemate volunteered to bash me over the head with the g*d-damned stereo to put both of us out of our misery. (I am embarassed to admit this because ex-girlfriend #2 actually reads this blog, and WOW is that a cheesy song, but at least our relationship is good enough almost 8 years later that I know she'll be delighted to make fun of me for this in person). At some point the stereo was mysteriously destroyed and my Melissa habit was broken. And years later I popped one of her CDs into the stereo and realized that, um, she's just not that good. So I wasn't SO excited about seeing her last night, but of course there was Erin. And as it turns out, Melissa is still a damned good performer. The woman can play. She still talks and plays the guitar faster than any sober human being should be able to. It's just a question of exactly which drug she's doing. I hate to admit it, but I felt like an OLD LESBIAN at this show. At one point a young woman behind us yells out: "I love you Melissa, ow ow ow ow OWWWW!" and I'm so ashamed that my first instinct was to ROLL MY EYES. The crowd was wild for Melissa, and even as I was loving her performance SO much more than I expected to, I kept thinking, "what is the appeal of this woman with .02% body fat and no songwriting talent?" And then, as if to confirm my fear, I. leans over to me and whispers, "Erin is so much more talented than Melissa. I don't get it - talent doesn't even seem to matter. Melissa's like the Britney Spears of lesbian folk music." Well, fuck it. If we're going to be those people who all the cute young queers look at at shows and think "how come those people are here wearing those shoes?" then I'm damn well going to have fun with it. And I'm bringing my ear plugs.

-------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: FemiKnitMafia COMMENT-DATE:2:42 PM COMMENT-BODY:OMG, Wifey and I are sitting here howling! You're Ffffunnny. And yes, we totally agree about dear sweet MF the crack head. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: susan COMMENT-DATE:3:12 PM COMMENT-BODY:We love Erin Mckeown--we got introduced to her here at a house concert, and just loved it, and have been fans ever since. She is a great songwriter; I like the variety in her work, and that voice.

Plus she is awfully cute when she dances while she sings and wears high top sneakers.

And I am enough of an old lesbian never to have heard of MF. I am definitely the least hip person in the house! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: J COMMENT-DATE:12:36 AM COMMENT-BODY:Hi - delurking:)

My thoughts EXACTLY on EM vs: MF. I was introduced to EM a few years ago when she played a tiny venue in my city...MF on the other hand...well, her music seemed incredibly important to me shortly after I came out of the closet - 10 years ago. I enjoyed many of her shows in the mid-late 90's, but then....really didn't like any of her new stuff.

Every year she does at least one obligitory date in "gay town" in my state, and I always think - gee, maybe we should go - and then I remember that she's not that great.

And, uhm, I always think she looks too think and is on drugs, but that's another story.

Nice blog --------