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Reviews: Performances: Happiness

Fan Reviews

I saw "Happiness" last night in Chicago, and I have to say, I think this was the most incredible thing I have ever seen, period. It was my first Laurie Anderson concert, and it was everything I was hoping it would be: beautiful stage lighting, an intimate venue, amazing music, and tons of interesting stories. The material was 98% new, save for two stories she told on her last "Life on a String" tour. Some of her stories were deeply moving - especially her descriptions of the aftermath of September 11th (seeing trucks leaving the city nonstop, hauling away concrete and steel). Some were quite hilarious, especially a story about living with some Amish farmers in Pennsylvania. Most often, her humor was followed by a pang of reality.. some sort of revelation.. It made for a unique intellectual and emotional ride. I'd love to see this material released. It'd be a great companion to "The Ugly One With The Jewels". Hopefully she'll take this elsewhere in the world (since I know a lot of you aren't in the U.S.!) - you must see this if you like Laurie! If she doesn't, hopefully someone will record it at some point. This is some of Laurie's most insightful and interesting work to date.

Lasherboy

I just had to write again concerning her new show "happiness." I recalled a gentleman saying as he was exiting the concert hall that night; "Laurie has changed so much." I don't THINK SO! If u are a true fan, you will clearly see that in essence, she hasn't changed bit! I mean , honestly I kept thinking of "United States live" the whole time. I will give that statement this much, she has maybe went further into her vast mind, but in all actuality, she still is Laurie. I'll give him this much, Life on a string," is a little different but in the big picture it's still her. My 10th grade teacher, Tom Clark would play Laurie on mon, wed and fri. That was our free writing day in our well kept daily journals that we so diligently kept up to make the grade. In his class, that was 80% of the grade. That's how I was introduced to the masterful mind works of Laurie Anderson. He also introduced me to Kitaro. Another fine human being with a message. Anyway, Ms. Anderson if u are out there! , I wish u peace, love, "happiness" ha ha, and good health so you can be around for many years to come to give us more of your inspirational work and glorius shows you so give. I've traveled all over the country to see your shows! 5 shows, 4 cities! Los angeles was the best ! Love Ted Reburn II SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA (2/27/2002)
I just saw Happyness in Princeton, New Jersey, last friday. And to whom it may concern: it really is Laurie Anderson! Low-tech, indeed, but so poetical and full of emotion! But are we finally coming to see an artist or her tools? By the way, I read in an 1996 article that she was trying to move away from that gadgetry appearence toward more intimate productions and, in so doing, she perhaps has been trying to practicise a bit more the essence of what her work has always been about: storytelling. Because technology was just a way she found to talk about an electronic culture like ours (and a stuff "to hide herself behind", as she personally once said in an interview). And beyond this, an artist doesn't have the right to do whatever he/she want? Even to change a style? (which is not the case here, I think).After all, it's her art, not ours, right? Azert46@hotmail.com

Back to HomePage of the Brave: Laurie Anderson by JimDavies (jim@jimdavies.org) Last modified: Thu Mar 14 11:07:55 EST 2002