My New Zealand Jobs

Sarah shines on first tour in New Zealand

It had been eight years since Sarah McLachlan had first performed in New Zealand, as part of someone else’s tour. Since that time, she has put out a few albums and put together the highly acclaimed all-female music tour, Lilith Fair. More recently, she had a daughter in 2002, and recently her latest album, Afterglow. Now, the 36 year old Sarah McLachlan takes her Afterglow tour down under for a few weeks. After traveling through Oz, she makes her way to New Zealand for three concert dates, one of which is at a place she has been before, the Wellington Town Hall.

Sitting in the third row, center, my friend and I are only 10 feet from the stage, and only fifteen feet from Sarah. Because of the way the speakers are set up, the sound wasn’t optimal for us…but we were 15 feet from Sarah, who is much more lovely in person. Opening the evening was New Zealand adult contemporary artist Amber Claire. Amber has done well for herself in New Zealand and beyond. Sarah is one of Amber’s main influences, and she has been likened to her mentor, and was no doubt thrilled to open for her. Amber, however, is a good, not great vocalist, who’s songs have no edge to them. Sorry Amber, you are not in the same class as Sarah McLachlan, or Enya, and definitely not Celine Dion.

After Amber’s set, we waited anxiously for awhile until Sarah’s band came on. The lights went down and the light show began. Her crew made great artistic use of color patterns and abstract images. It was the coolest background display I had ever seen, and that only enhanced Sarah’s ethereal, mood-inducing music. Starting with her latest single, then moving to the popular Aida, her voice soared, then wove a quiet tapestry, and no matter the note, she never strained to hit it. Without question, she is the best female vocalist I have ever seen live. Let’s not stop there though. While at times she merely sung passionate into a microphone, most of the time she played a guitar as well, acoustic and electric. And then, for the delicate songs, she sat at the piano. Some of the first words she spoke were before dedicating a song she wrote for her husband. Music told the story this evening, with words being few, but when spoken, they were genuine and full of meaning. As she left the stage at the end, the crowd roared, and soon after, they returned. As she said, “Now is the time for dessert.” We then all sang Ice Cream, her crowd participation favorite. A few more songs then ensued, and then Sarah said goodbye while her band finished the last song. The crowd wasn’t quite ready to leave, and made that known. Sarah came back onstage and was quite overwhelmed. Silently, quietly, she made her way to the piano, started playing, and sang: “Spend all your time waiting…for a second chance…” Angel flowed from her silky smooth voice and left me so mesmerized that I found it difficult to cheer after the song. The crowd started clapping and screaming, and I stood, and cheered, and as I looked around, realized everything else was doing the same. Sarah deserved the standing ovation, and I’m glad that the home of Peter Jackson recognized this, and could share their hearts with someone else.