Sarah McClaclan at the Oakland Paramount

I'm putting this post on my Blog, its not a dream, but its the stuff of dreams. I don't go out much, and I spend alot of time alone,, so it a drag to go out somewhere at my age...alone.

When I found out Sarah mcClaclan was going to be at the Oakland Paramount, Wow ,its a can't miss. I missed so many other performers here, Jean-Luc-Ponty, played at the Yoshi's in Oakland ( though I ran into him personally outside before the concert), Joe Zawinul , in his new syndicate at Yoshi's, George Clinton and Funkadelic/Parliament (though I'm not a great fan), that 80's/90's band "Missing Persons", Hiroshima", The "Waters/Pink Floyd" reunion, Pat Methany.

I almost missed Sarah McClaclan, at the Oakland Paramount. I saw it as they were putting her name on the marquee, that was just about 3 weeks before the Concert.I found out that tickets were available at least a month before her name even hit the Marque. By the time I checked online for tickets, which were relatively inexpensive...they were sold out. Tickets were available everywhere else ,from "craigslists" to other vendors outside the city.

By the day of the Concert , I could not find any reasonably priced tickets and I didn't have a date, I was going to give up on this concert. I had a few false hopes on craigslist but the sellers didn't follow through.

The day of the concert was "Superbowl Sunday" out here in Oakland, and I was planning watch the game with my father that day, but when he stood me up I decided to go down to the show to see what the ticket situation was for the Sarah McClaclan show. Not wanting the day to be a total bummer cause I was scheduled to work that day and I didn't go.

I broke down and brought a $60.00 ticket from a scalper outside the show. I think the guy switched tickets on me, advertising a good seat in the middle of the theatre on the ground floor. When I got to the seat it was on the ground floor ...near the back of the theatre ..near the ushers. I'd need binoculars to see the performers clearly.

The stage and lighting is what you'd expect for a Sarah Mclaclan concert, lots of a velvety purple lighting and curtains with chandeliers. I was at this concert by myself. I couldn't imagine bringing another woman with me to a concert like that...I'd think I would have liked it hearing Sarah Mclaclan singing "Posse ion" in my ear. Only a guy would get off from that that or a "newborn". I don't think too many other women would get off by that.



The stage lighting was really good fading into colors like blue, purple, green and gold. the sound was good, as Sarah sang many songs from her new album, as well as some old ones like "Answer", Possession" and Angel. many I haven't heard before, so I was just dumbfounded as a guy hearing some of her stuff, the songwriting and the performance..is just wonderful McClanclan has a quite a gift..... Possession is just a terrific song, but so is stuff like Answer" or Angel.



It was real frustrating though not to be able to see her clearly, I spend $60.00, and I was going to see her damn it!. I finally got the nerve (all the sshers where practically sitting behind me) to move down the aisle during a performance in guise or taking pictures, but I really just wanted to see her better. Really she's attractive woman, big and tall also. They all look like goddesses or something on stage. She looked a bit blitzed on something,I know alot of performers need something to relax them during a performance.

Anyway I found a new home nearer the stage in the aisle during the performance, Sarah was signing something like ( I will not be afraid..) but it turned out it was near intermission, so they broke for a break after that. And I went back to my seat (a mistake?)

After that a lovely usher sat down next to me, as I was sitting alone. A nice gesture, at a lonely time, but she left when Sarah started singing "Possession".

Sarah Mclaclan also did alittle impromptu "Question and Answer" answering audience questions but it wasn't an impromptu type of thing. If I had a chance to think about it , a question I would have asked her would be about how and why she works such a grueling concert schedule. I mean I knew the next day Sarah is scheduled to play another concert in San Diego, then the next day Los Angeles, and the next...at least 10+ concerts back to back.

How can she do that, how does the other performers take that? Is it safe to be on the road so much, and what about her loving fans, does she remember us, the people she meets out in the audience ,the faces out there?

She and one of her other performers said, that they give to the "Save the poor African orphans" fund, but I wanted to say that there are alot of blacks out here that could benefit from her kindness....yeah! be the Answer.

The truth is with a schedule like hers its a wonder if she remember anything, about US, the fans in the audience, all that touring ,is she just trying to pay bills, pay taxes.. a college fund for her kids?

Sarah headlines with two other female performers in her Lilith Band. The two other ladies were great; one,the bass player I think had a lovely British accent. She sounded like Sade the R&B vocalist.



The other female played a mean lead guitar, and remarked that in her home town of Ontario, Canada it was so cold that if you spit on the ground it would bounce as it hit the ground.

I loved that drummer also ,he played a fucking mean tambourine, long live the tambourine ,I say.. My only other slight criticism of Ms. McClaclan concert, is that some of her songs , I felt could benefit from alittle "Steel Guitar". Some of her songs have a definite country feel ,and alitte "country twang" might not hurt though not alot. I wonder if she has tried that already?

All in all I'd say that Sarah McClaclan tour in Oakland,California was like a cold Northern wind blowing through the city, sure its cold.....and startles you but its a fresh wind. And that's what they were like. A fresh wind from Canada.