This Tuesday (October 14th), Ray LaMontagne‘s new album “Gossip In The Grain” comes out and I’m really excited. I just saw him perform last Friday at the Opera House in Boston and WOW…what a show. I was a bit nervous because I purchased 2 tickets, not next to each other (by accident). I brought one of my roommates, another fan. We happend to see him a couple years ago – balcony seats at the Orpheum. This time, I was hell bent on getting Orchestra seats and I did it…just couldn’t get two together.
Opening for Ray was Leona Naess, whom I had heard of but never heard her stuff. Of course I really liked her. She had a pretty instrument (meaning her vocals) and I really thought she did well, despite the fact that the place hadn’t really filled up yet. I hate when people come late to a show just to skip the opening act…granted, I’ve done that too but at a show where it was General Admission, and not assigned seats. Throughout the entire show people were filtering in and leaving to get drink refills in the lobby. Oh well. She did great.
I had an aisle seat and my friend was in the row behind me. I wound up sitting next to her for half of Ray’s set…before the people in those seats finally showed up. Who does that? Pays for a show and shows up halfway through it? Ridiculous. Anyway, the couple wound up leaving before the show was even over so I joined my roommie again.
The show itself was brilliant. Ray was soft-spoken as ever. He sang a few of his old songs (“Three More Days,” “Trouble,” “Shelter,” etc.) as well as a bunch of his new songs. I really think this album is going to be great (despite Entertainment Weekly giving it a “B-“, and saying it could use some “livening up.” “Meg White” was a romping good time, as was new song “Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s A Shame).” Those two songs were definitely a bit more ROCK than previous efforts but I think it’s a good sound for him. “Let It Be Me,” & “You Are The Best Thing” were also good. Ray did 2 encores…during the first encore some douchebag did something to piss Ray off from the second row. Ray flipped out and started screaming at security to “get this fuck out of here.” I don’t know what this guy did but it was great seeing that unfold. It was definitely uncharacteristic of Ray’s stage persona.
