Regina Spektor - Carling Academy, Birmingham, 5/9/2007
by Charles Howarth
published: 28 / 9 / 2007
![Regina Spektor - Carling Academy, Birmingham, 5/9/2007](/images/Pictures/PicWebP800/6296.webp)
intro
Unaware of the geography of Birmingham, guest reviewer Charles Howarth nearly gets lost in its city centre, but makes it to the Carling Academy in time to see Regina Spektor play an impressive set
When you’re going to a gig there are a few things you should do. Firstly, it's probably a good idea to find out where the venue is; secondly, it doesn’t do any harm to find out when the last train home is; and thirdly, get there on time. We managed one out of three, and, having missed the support act, and after enlisting the help of some fellow gig-goers, whose knowledge of the geography of Birmingham city centre, extended – like our own – to “I think its somewhere near the Bullring isn’t it?” we were just in time to get a drink and find somewhere to stand for the first song. Phew. Once we were set I had a chance to look around (as well as time to unsuccessfully avoid getting bonked on the head by some sketchy, but admittedly rather attractive girls throwing Regina Spektor badges from the balcony above.) The first thing that struck me was that Regina had pulled a rather unusual crowd. The success of the latest album ‘Begin to Hope’ had brought in a number who you’d imagine had picked up their copy at Sainsbury’s as a quirky change from that James Blunt CD they bought last week. I also recall the middle-aged couple standing in front of us shifting rather uncomfortably amongst a sea of teenagers. But it seems that Regina also has a following of aficionados, happy to clap widely and perhaps rather smugly at the more obscure tracks from her non-UK released albums to which most of us were unaware. Without doubt her voice is very impressive. I’m sure that with the passing of the famous tenor Pavarotti recently people will remark that his voice had to be heard live to be truly appreciated. Now, I don’t think for a moment that Regina sounds much like Pavarotti…which is probably for the best… but I did think prior to the gig that the opposite might be true of Regina, and that she’d be hard pushed to reproduce live the power, clarity and tone of her evidently attentively produced and polished albums. She, however, did so admirably. 'Poor Little Rich Boy' serves as perfect example. It was played one-handed on a beautiful piano, which she attempted to smash to pieces with a drumstick wielded in her right hand. Her vocals, especially on the repeated line “You’re so God damn young, and you don’t love your girlfriend” were delivered with an intimidating power. But she could also muster diversity; my favourite song of the night was a melancholy 'Summer in the City'. A song whose lyrics describe a Regina whose beauty and obvious appeal to the opposite sex doesn’t rid her of the loneliness of missing the one she loved. For many popular music artists to sing about loneliness would evoke only cynicism, but the tenderness of the vocal performance and the honesty of the lyrics induced sympathy. (Especially from an artist who usually avoids bearing her soul through the use of characterisation and narrative; if you know Regina’s work you’ll know exactly what I mean if you think of the ‘Mary Ann’ character, as well as the Samson and Delilah story.) Predictably, the singles 'Us' and 'Samson' were very well received. Surprisingly I was rather unimpressed by both. 'Us' definitively lacked the powerful staccato piano of the album version, and was perhaps the only song of the set to miss the presence of a supporting band. It sounded hollow and passionless, without the bite to the vocals expected in the lines “We’re living in a den of thieves, and its contagious.” 'Samson' is quite clearly a wonderful song, but the performance was merely a run-through of a hit, and lack the thoughtful care awarded to songs such as 'Field Below'. Perhaps Regina is tiring of playing them both, or perhaps I’m hard to please, but all the same they could not damage what was undoubtedly an excellent set.
Band Links:-
https://reginaspektor.com/https://www.facebook.com/reginaspektor
https://twitter.com/respektor
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-
![Regina Spektor - Carling Academy, Birmingham, 5/9/2007](/images/Pictures/PicWebP800/6297.webp)
![Regina Spektor - Carling Academy, Birmingham, 5/9/2007](/images/Pictures/PicWebP800/6295.webp)
live reviews |
Chicago Theater, Chicago, 9/10/2022 |
![]() |
Lisa Torem enjoys Regina Spektor’s engaging performance at the Chicago Theater in support of the singer-songwriter-pianist’s latest album, ‘Home, Before and After.’ |
soundcloud
reviews |
Home Before and After (2022) |
![]() |
Playful, unpredictable and sometimes heart-wrenching first album in six years from Moscow-born, but New York-based singer-songwriter Regina Spektor |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Flaming Stars - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPPrisoners - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Sam Brown - Interview 2008
Bluebells - Interview with Ken McCluskey
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadKula Shaker - Natural Magick
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart