[This photo is actually from Rufus re-creating Garland’s concert at Carnegie Hall]
So Rufus just played the Palladium.
Garland’s 1961 legendary comeback concert at Carnegie Hall became one of the most popular live albums of all time, winning five Grammys.
Wainwright, who is as self-confident as it is possible to be without running for president, had the brass neck to perform the exact same show on the same New York stage last June, where it was received favourably enough for him to bring it to London and Paris this month.
He has got away with it because this was not an inferior singer putting himself on the same pedestal as a legend.
Honest. to GOD.
Seriously, the balls. The unbelievable BALLS. I LOVE him for it. I’ve loved him ANYway – and seeing him play on Valentine’s Day 2002 at Town Hall here in New York was just really special … but to watch him take his career to THIS place? Who else??? Who else would do this??? To quote Mitchell: “He is just HAVING IT ALL right now.” Rufus is totally having it all. And “having it all” probably ALSO means: “having a TON of sex, or at least the OPPORTUNITY to have tons of sex, whenever he wants it.” I mean … this dude is a hot property. BeLOVED by a very specific set of people. Also, having seen him in person, I can attest to the fact that the boy loves his wine. He loves a party. Great banter, funny, anecdotalist, and not at all uptight. He loves to chatty chat, flirty flirt, spilling red wine on his fantastic boots by accident, and laughing, as though he’s about to get in trouble. He’s adorable. He is having so much sex. You just know it. But anyway: LOVE him. I just love all the descriptions of it too … not trying to COMPETE with Judy. Not even trying to put himself in the same pantheon – although, just by the scope of the project, obviously he is … but as a FAN. As a guy who has become successful enough that he can say, “Okay … wanna know what I want to do next? I want to re-create Judy Garland’s big come-back at the London Palladium … wouldn’t that be fun??” and people say back, “Yes, Rufus, that sounds great!”
Sigh. AWESOME.
I can only hope that these performances are released on DVD so I can catch a bit of Rufus magic.
Love it, too – I’ve been surfing the Web looking for people who were there at the Palladium, just to get their reactions – and I came across an article that was titled: ‘WAINWRIGHT EXPLAINS HIS GARLAND OBSESSION’.
That made me chuckle.
As though it needs to be explained. As though it is just so WEIRD to be obsessed with, uhm, one of the greatest singers who has ever lived? God … you’re obsessed with Judy Garland??? God. That is so WEIRD.
Also – just from having seen him live – he’s got the most endearing personality. You just fall in love with him. He’s funny, self-deprecating – but then when it comes time to put up or shut up – my GOD, that voice. And his presence! He’s having it all, is basically what I’m saying. And I think it’s awesome.
It is. Completely awesome. I love that he did that (and there are SO many people who, had they had the audacity to try to recreate that concert, would have left me fuming and pitching a fit) and that he CAN do that. It’s brilliant. I absolutely adore him.
Right … it sounds like it was the opposite of “precious”. Or self-important. I mean, of course it was A HUGELY self-important project – hahaha – but I like to think that he is in the grand tradition of singing divas – and a diva ain’t a diva without at least SOME self-importance.
But it sounds to me like he’s just a maniac FAN and that THAT was his energy during the shows. And of course it doesn’t hurt that he can sing like that …
So wonderful. I love him!
Marisa – did you see The Aviator? He plays one of the band singers – in the first scene at the nightclub. Actually – the entire Wainwright family was hired by Scorsese for the movie – and they each played a singer from a different era, as the nightclub went thru the years.
Very cool. Rufus in a tuxedo – being all croony and swoony – and the thing about him is, he really can DO that with his voice. It fit.
Re the Wainright family in Aviator – I did not know that. Now I have to watch it again.
One of the greatest nights of my life was when Rufus’ father, Loudon, opened for Richard Thompson at the First Avenue. Thompson’s drummer had broken his arm the night before, so the whole gig was totally improv – this great band, working without a drummer, and pulling it off with style.
Anyway, Loudon wound up sitting in for the whole gig. Amazing show – two of my favorites of all time on one stage, five feet in front of me.
I can see where Rufus gets the talent.
Mitch – holy shit, that sounds like an INCREDIBLE show!!! Jealous!!!
Yeah – it’s Loudon, Rufus and Martha – I think I have the chronology right here: Loudon is the kind of crazy-eyed band-leader of the 20s – who is manic, waving his arms around – Rufus is kind of the smooth singer of the 30s -he sings “I’ll build a stairway to Paradise …” – he’s in a tuxedo, slicked back hair – and then Martha Wainwright – with a big hothouse flower in her hair, a la Ava Gardner – plays the bombshell singer of the 1940s.
I love that Scorsese did that with them – great thing. There’s a great interview with Loudon in the DVD extras – talking about how cool it was to do this movie with his 2 kids. Really special.