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April 23, 2006

Beth Orton @ Webster Hall, NYC 4/12/05

"I got a joke. What is ET short for?" Beth joked midset. "Because he's got little legs."

Completely charming, Brit chanteuse Beth had Webster Hall hanging on her every word and the single terrible joke, after taking the stage shortly after 10 PM on Monday.

Why the delay in this post? Well, I took notes on my Sidekick Deux, as per my usual dorky blogger/concertgoer ritual, but since switched over to the Blackberry 8700g*, losing all my notes from the night. But I do have photos:



Brooklyn Vegan alerts us that David Byrne was there as was Chris Music Snob, who didn't lose his notes as I did:

SETLIST
"Absinthe"
"Heartland Truckstop"
"Rectify"
"Conceived"
"Safe In Your Arms"
"Stolen Car"
"Someone's Daughter"
"Shadow Of A Doubt"
"Heart Of Soul"
"Shopping Trolley"
"Comfort Of Strangers"
"Sugar Boy"
"God Song"
"Best Bit"
"Countenance"
"Pieces of Sky"

Encore 1:
"Worms"
"Feral"
"Pass in Time"
"A Place Aside"

Encore 2:
"Ooh Child"
"She Cries Your Name"

The song requests came nonstop. And Beth felt comfortably fun enough to throw a playful "fuck you" at those most insistent. From my vantage, "Best Bit" was Beth's best shit; it seemed sped up, but probably wasn't -- just her most rock star moment amidst a night of lovelorn balladry.

And despite someone from Pitchfork (I forget who) e-mailing me: Do you REALLY like the new Beth Orton record?! a few months back, Stereogum unequivocally recommends Comfort Of Strangers. Amazon | iTunes

*Still figuring out this Blackberry. The Edge is nice, but the device seems to lack functionality I was expecting. A friend recommended I RTFL ("read the fucking manual"). And I did! And still -- why am I getting the same e-mail 10 times a day from some people? T-Mobile's fault perhaps. Peter from Engadget wrote me:

To be honest I'm not a big fan of any of the BlackBerry phones, but if you're deadset on getting one you should wait a couple of weeks. T-Mob is coming out with the BB 7100g in about two weeks (I've got one here with me now), and it's better than the ones they have for sale currently. I generally prefer a phone with a true smartphone OS (like the MDA and the Treo 650), you can pick and chose which apps you want to install. I'm actually looking to buy right now and am probably going to pick up the new Treo 700p when it comes out next month.
Would've waited Peter, but my Sidekick screen broke so I needed a replacement asap.

If you don't have anything to say about Ms. Orton, at least tell me what your ringtone is. My current "Who Can It Be Now?" was funny for about zero seconds.

Posted at 3:18 PM in




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19 Comments

it took me a few minutes to get the ET joke

ringtone-Blister in the Sun

Posted by: Emily at 04/23/06 5:44 PM | Reply
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I've always wanted to hear more of her stuff.

As for the ringtone, I'm still grooving to "1 Thing" by Amerie.

Posted by: Chuck at 04/23/06 5:53 PM | Reply
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Marquee Moon by Television.... just the intro guitars of course..

Posted by: Blood of Bambi at 04/23/06 6:17 PM | Reply
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looks like Beth Orton watches Extras. that joke was featured in an episode.

Posted by: ricky gervais fan at 04/23/06 6:31 PM | Reply
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"let's dance" by bowie. has a nice kick to it.

Posted by: max at 04/23/06 7:17 PM | Reply
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"let's dance" by bowie. has a nice kick to it. ringtones are fucking highway robbery tho. $2.99 for a 14-second mp3? come on.

Posted by: max at 04/23/06 7:17 PM | Reply
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As an Arrested Development fanboy, my ringtone can be nothing other than "The Final Countdown."

Posted by: Zack at 04/23/06 8:09 PM | Reply
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i used to have 'final countdown' but i couldn't resist the swansong of freddy and had to go with 'fat bottomed girls'

Posted by: josh at 04/23/06 9:10 PM | Reply
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I'm with Zack; it has been for a long time and will continue to be for a longtime, "The Final Countdown."

Posted by: liv at 04/23/06 10:50 PM | Reply
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Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence.

actually no, but that might be funny for zero more seconds than yours.

Posted by: andy at 04/24/06 11:14 AM | Reply
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"la locomotora" by cafe tacuba. i end up listening to it and not answering the phone, though.

Posted by: ernesto at 04/24/06 1:36 PM | Reply
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"Awesome God" by Rich Mullins

I used to hear it on those SONGS 4 WORSHIP commercials late at night and it was so funny seeing a convention hall full of jesus freaks declaring the awesomeness of their god that I had to try it out as a ringtone.

Now it makes my friends vaguely embarrassed and new acquaintances look at me askew.

Still, it's a jam.

Posted by: x. at 04/24/06 1:58 PM | Reply
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she DIDN'T PLAY This One's Gonna Bruise? best song! too bad

Posted by: wes at 04/24/06 2:14 PM | Reply
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It was a tremendous show. I caught a couple of the songs (Central Rervation, Heart of Soul, Worms, Pass In Time & Ooh Child) on my digicam if you want to check them out on my blog at http://www,vagabound.com

Posted by: Cinco at 04/24/06 2:34 PM | Reply
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It was a tremendous show. I caught a couple of the songs (Central Reservation, Heart of Soul, Worms, Pass In Time & Ooh Child) on my digicam if you want to check them out on my blog at http://www,vagabound.com

Posted by: Cinco at 04/24/06 2:36 PM | Reply
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This monkey can't type so good...
It's http://www.vagabound.com

Posted by: Cinco at 04/24/06 2:39 PM | Reply
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I saw Beth a couple years ago at Austin City Limits Fest, and I swear she was chugging back vodka the whole time. It could've been water though.

Posted by: Brandon at 04/24/06 3:32 PM | Reply
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My funny one is "Legalize It" by Mr. Tosh. Makes stuffy people in business meetings blush.

Posted by: Trey at 04/24/06 4:23 PM | Reply
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glad you finally got your blackberry, scott!

Posted by: noah at 04/25/06 12:37 AM | Reply
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