Somewhere in the
Cyndi Lauper catalog there's a haunting song by the title of "Fearless". While she didn't play that song tonight, that was the word that kept popping into my brain. Fearless. After a dumbfoundingly appalling support act (not quite as bad the support act on the recent Radiohead tour - these guys were listenable at least), Cyndi bounded on to stage and within the first couple of songs had clambered up on to the speaker stacks, the grand piano and on top of someone's seat in the middle of an adoring crowd. More surprisingly, such 'stunts' didn't feel gimmicky because she never stopped singing her heart out, showcasing a voice that is better remembered by most people for it's quirks than for it's devastating range and power. She twisted some covers (eg. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Walk On By) and a few of her own songs (She Bop, Time After Time) and threw in some complete rockers (It's Hard To Be Me, Sisters Of Avalon). I came away from the show thinking that Cyndi is not only a complete original, she's probably one of the more exciting - and, yes, fearless - performers I've ever seen.
