The music icon played at Palms Casino
Melissa Etheridge began her set at Palms Casino in Las Vegas on Friday (July 7th) by strumming her guitar as her three-piece band took the stage as part of her 44-date Summer 2023 Tour.
Normally, of course, the opposite happens: a band plays an elongated melody as the star arrives. But that’s Etheridge’s personality: down-to-earth and unassumingly ego-less.
Though there were just four musicians total on stage, they were crisp and full. Straddling blues, rock, and country, Etheridge’s sound is unmistakable. Of course, it helps that she possess one of the most recognizable vocal tones in all of music. It is a voice that can sing anything.
Whether it’s the power behind “If I Wanted To” or the breathy whispers of the breakup tome “You Used to Dance,” Etheridge sang through every layer of her songs deftly.
Proving even further her every-man authenticity, she took a moment to address some fans with a big sign in the balcony. Impressed by their efforts, she added the acoustic cut “Occasionally,” off of her first record. Etheridge accompanying herself with percussion on her guitar back brought a stillness to the Pearl Theater that was only broken by a rousing standing ovation.
Ever the singer-songwriter, Etheridge’s music makes one think as much as it makes one jam along. “The Dogs of September” and “Ruins” are especially good at this. Even “Occasionally” has a line that still rings in my ears: “I guess I’m just addicted to the pain of delight.” Only Melissa Etheridge can get away with a line like that.
The stage production was minimal. With Etheridge in all-black sequins, the standout stage objects were the parade of colorful guitars. Greens and blues and golds. Every color as sharp as the music itself. Known as quite the shredder, the loudly-designed instruments felt intentional.
Melissa Etheridge is a national treasure. In many ways, she’s underrated for what she has done in music. She has shattered the glass ceiling and shown that female artists don’t have to let themselves be put in a musical box. It’s as if she’s demanding others to embrace their own individuality, “Like the way I Do.”
The Grammy and Academy Award-winning rockstar will debut her acclaimed, theatrical event, Melissa Etheridge: My Window in a limited nine-week Broadway residency at the Circle in the Square Theatre at 235 West 50th Street beginning Thursday, September 14th, with an official opening night of Thursday, September 28th.
The production was written by Melissa Etheridge, with additional material by Linda Wallem-Etheridge (Nurse Jackie showrunner, That ‘70s Show), and directed by Amy Tinkham (Aerosmith’s Deuces Are Wild Las Vegas Residency, Dancing with the Stars Live). The creative team includes scenic design by Emmy Award nominee Bruce Rodgers (Super Bowl Halftime shows since 2010), lighting design by Abigail Rosen Holmes (Phish, David Byrne’s Contemporary Color), projection design by Olivia Sebesky (James Taylor, Chad Deity), and sound design by Colle Bustin (West Side Story).
Also this fall, Etheridge will release her new new book, Talking to My Angels, via Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins, on September 5th. Twenty years after her New York Times bestseller The Truth Is…, Etheridge returns with a deeply moving follow-up that recounts the euphoric triumphs and life-altering tragedies of her life since.
