Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs share their wits and favorite songs in New York
September 11, 2009, at City Winery
By Eleanor Whitney
Published: September 13th, 2009 | 4:05pm
It seemed implausible that after walking into City Winery on a misty Friday night, there could be such an invitingly intimate setting for two stars of the 1980's and '90s. Matthew Sweet and the Bangles' Susanna Hoffs, collectively known as Sid 'n' Susie, were performing their repertoire of cover songs from the 1960's and '70s (released on two Shout! Factory compilations) to the crowd at a sold-out show. But unlike a Bangles arena tour or a '90s alternative rock show, audience members were all comfortably seated at dinner tables and at the wine bar, politely sipping immaculately curated vintages and nibbling chef-suggested pairings. Certainly, show goers looked like they had patronized Michael Dorf's well-known experimental music venue the Knitting Factory when it first opened in downtown Manhattan in the '80s, and were now enjoying this more refined experience.
Seated onstage, Sweet was comfortably portly while Hoffs looked blithe and sprightly in a simple black dress. Early on it was clear that the show was about more than the songs, as Sweet treated the audience to a well-crafted story that lamented the loss of Hoffs' custom guitar in the trunk of a cab earlier that day. "Turn on your cell phones so we can check eBay while we play," he joked and added, "We're without our tools, so we've got to use our wits instead. We should probably play some music, but it's the talking that makes it special."
Special was the feeling that permeated the evening. The songs that Sweet and Hoffs were so masterfully performing were ones that the audience had grown up with, and each time the duo began one it was met with whistles and enthusiastic applause. Blending vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar strumming, they moved from Fleetwood Mac's "Second Hand News," to Carly Simon's "You're So Vain," to Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl," to Elvis Costello's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" (written by Nick Lowe). Their performance featured friendly camaraderie and a sheer appreciation for the songs and songwriters.
The performance did not come off without a hitch, however. There were several false starts and during the transition into the chorus of Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes," Sweet stopped short and elicited a big groan from the crowd. "Wait, hang on! It's gonna come back!" he exclaimed and it did, bursting into a joyous rendition of the classic anthem about being a young rocker in the '70s.
The atmosphere seemed to grow warmer throughout the show. Sweet and Hoffs took questions from the audience and hawked their merchandise, including Sweet's handmade porcelain cats. When asked if they would perform electric, Sweet laughed and explained, "We prefer the acoustic dinner theater thing with the comedy routine and learning the songs on stage."
The performance was perfectly suited for a cabaret-type environment, and the opportunity to see two giants of popular music up close and personal while hearing some of their favorite songs put an extra polish on the experience.
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Susanna lost her guitar in New York?!
