Concert Review: Suzanne Vega Converts Cafe Carlyle Into Tom’s Diner
Suzanne Vega played the Café Carlyle to the pleasure of a few, lucky New Yorkers able to see the Harlem songstress play her classic folk-pop. With a top hat in hand and the mind to make easy conversation, Vega took The Café Carlyle atmosphere as an opportunity to not just perform but present herself. As she marveled that the night/ her series of concerts will be ones to to connect her music to audiences more personally than ever.
Last year, Vega released Lover/ Beloved: Songs From An Evening with Carson McCullers. The songs were co-written with longtime friend/collaborator Duncan Sheik about the early 20th century Southern novelist. The renowned writer was known for creating characters that were eccentric loners looking upon life and others from an emotional distance. In essence, McCullers and Vega share similar themes of showing brilliance and loneliness as common threads for their lyrical protagonists. Vega’s “Crack In The Wall”, “Marlene On The Wall” , “The Queen and The Soldier” and “Tom’s Diner” are all tracks about the personal observances people make when questioning how and if they can partake in their life and that of others. As Vega spoke of McCullers with a resounding respect and creative admiration, a mental/spiritual bridge was built between her and the renowned novelist whose own personality was known to be fiery and strong. Vega shares the same quick-wit and charm in her show, of which The Café Carlyle lounge felt perfect in mustering the intimacy and personable nature Vega desired.
It could be because she wanted to really capture McCullers’ spirit and emanate it to the audience, but Vega held as much warm conversation with crowd as she did songs. That night the audience was particularly friendly yelling “I love you!”, “You make me happy!”, and “You are the best!” to Vega. She smiled thankfully, and seemed to absorb the admiration with a casual grace. For her, their love was only fuel for her own love of music, her show, and her curiosity of this virtue. Her smoky vocals are perfect for the words/settings of her songs “New York Is My Destination”, “We of Me”, “Carson’s Last Supper’”, which are all about the hope, passion, and resignation we can have to movement of dreams and relationships in our life. Vega is such a nuanced lyricist and vocalist because she captures the branches of emotions. In essence, if love is a tree, she captures the sentimental twigs and leaves that stem from it such as, anxiety, exhilaration, delusion, and perseverance. Having such a phenomenal style and approach to music made the night feel “real” or rather one to be okay with being raw and vulnerable to the imperfection of things as perfect as love and art.
Suzanne Vega – Luka
Life is perfect, but our lives are not. God is good, but humanity can be. Love is wonderful, but relationships are work. See where I am going with this…. My point is that perfection exists somewhere above humanity, and Vega writes/sings for the many times we reach for said perfection to realize that our grasp is not strong enough to hold it forever. Hence, as McCullers learned with her love for “AnneMarie” and her rivalry with “Harper Lee”, the best moments of your life are fleeting. Your times to shine in the spotlight come in instances, and Vega provides a kind, fun instant in her concert run until March 25. Click Here For More Information And To Buy Tickets.
