Lady Lucky a real winner
Etheridge comes up aces at casino gig
By DENIS ARMSTRONG -- Ottawa Sun

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MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Lac Leamy's Casino Theatre, Ottawa
Thursday, September 30, 2004
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OTTAWA -- Melissa Etheridge got lucky last night at Lac Leamy's Casino Theatre.

Naturally -- it's a casino.

But being lucky is also a state of mind for the gravelly voiced rocker from Kansas who treated 800 unshakable fans to a jubilant night of music-making.

Promoting her most recent album, Lucky, which also happens to be her nickname, Etheridge wore her happily married (to Tammy Lynn Michaels) heart on her sleeve throughout the two-hour gig that felt about as long as a cigarette.

"Who wants to get lucky tonight," she joked.

Etheridge immediately had 800 volunteers standing on their feet.

And why not?

Backed by her best album in years and one of the best backup bands going with guitarist Phil Sayce, drummer Kenny Aronoff and bass-player Mark Browne, Etheridge, too, was at her best.

With the casino stage decked out as a vintage "Lucky" pinball machine, Etheridge kicked off things with quick hits from the new album -- I Want To Come Over and the bittersweet love song Breathe -- ensuring that this was a classic long-haired, raspy-voiced, guitar-rock concert.

Strangely, much of the longing desire and despair of Lover Please or Similar Features was quickly dampened by Etheridge's jovial mood. That meant this was as light and entertaining as the blues gets.

Whether that was the dizzy state she found herself in, confusing Gatineau for Ottawa, or excitement at being so close to the blackjack tables, Etheridge chatted and flirted all night long.

"I'm tired of pretending that my country's sane," she laughed, joking about missing last night's American presidential debates. "I hope that when America grows up, it's just like Canada."

Etheridge broke things up halfway through the concert with a solo performance of Precious Pain before calling the boys back out for Kiss Me, Bring Me Some Water, I'm the Only One and her encore, Giant.

Despite some dodgy sound that kept losing the guitar end, Etheridge proved to be a consummate rocker who deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker.

Guitarist Sayce was the bonus of the night. The mop-topped axeman seemed to be in perpetual motion -- dancing, frolicking, shuffling and sliding all over the stage while playing with such ferocity and fine articulation that I suddenly remembered why lead guitarists get all the chicks.

Melissa Etheridge returns to the Lac Leamy Casino Theatre tonight to play another concert.