The 80’s-Pop Princess and icon, Cyndi Lauper came back to Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall after two years with a new sound, new hit album and new hair to boot! Wednesday August 4, 2010 the hall was packed with Lauper fans, some decked out in outfits to rival Lauper’s flamboyant fashion sense.
David Rhodes opened with just his guitar and laptop. He was rocking out some electric blues with his strong wailing voice. It was kind of a rougher version of David Gray. Although he wasn’t talentless, he was anything but a crowd pleaser. I could hear complaints and grumbles during his harsh guitar strums. I could see some of the older fans cringing and holding their ears. I could appreciate what he was trying to do, but with all of his efforts he still fell flat.
Lauper’s stage set-up was simple and clean. No huge backdrops, LCD screens, crazy props or an army of instruments for this performance. She had a guitarist, bass player, drummer, keyboard/synthesizer player and an organist. Cyndi Lauper took the stage with bright red hair, somewhat reminiscent of Sideshow Bob of the Simpsons, but still a rocking style choice. She wore a translucent, black jacket-dress with a 50’s cut blue, leopard bathing-suit looking undergarment.
Lauper immediately thanked her fans for the success of her “Memphis Blues” album and said she would be playing the blues for us. “Just Your Fool,” was her opener. She looked good, danced around that stage like she was 20 again, and was very passionate about singing her blues. She was amped up and had a great energy. The soft, blue and green lighting complemented the tunes and atmosphere quite well.
I was surprised at how well Lauper could rock the blues. If possible those pipes of hers are even better than they were 20 years ago. For such low key music, she was still able to keep it upbeat. She said herself, “The best thing about the Blues is its uplifting.” She claimed that she’d been dreaming about making a blues album for years but had to earn it but, “Now I can do whatever the hell I want!” At Ruth Eckerd that night she most certainly proved that.
Every once in awhile she would meander into these awkward ramblings, telling strange tales and stories, only a few of which were even slightly related to the song she had sung or was about to sing. They somehow made her more endearing though.
She played on the lap guitar for a few songs, a huge crowd pleaser. After an hour or so of an intense blues session where she played nearly the entirety of her album including, “Early in the Morning,” “Shattered Dreams,” “Down Don’t Bother Me,” and “Crossroads,” she closed the blues set, said goodnight and left the stage.
She was beckoned back because she hadn’t played her classics and 80’s hits yet. I was surprised that she didn’t throw them into the Blues set here and there but I knew she couldn’t truly end the evening without playing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!” She came back out on stage, kicked off her shoes and the Encore with “Change of Heart,” and then grooved into a swingy version of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” followed by “Time After Time,” during which she played the lap guitar again.
She brought David Rhodes accompanied Lauper and her band to bust out a slower and bluesy version of “She-Bop,” then concluded with Memphis Slim’s, “Mother Earth,” bowed with her band and said another goodnight to her fans. I knew a second Encore was on the horizon and after a few minutes and many screams, hoots and hollers, she came back to end the night with “True Colors,” throwing in a “Power to the People” chant within her grand finale.
It was a great evening. She shocked me with her love of the blues but she rocked it. Where at some points she was a little too preachy and stumbling with words, she made up for it with her music selections, positivity and amazing energy. Watching her in action was quite the experience, and she has a very passionate fan-base. Everyone left uplifted by a night of Blues, and 80’s classics with Cyndi Lauper.
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