It took me a while to fall for Regina Spektor a few years ago. Her anti-folk sound of Soviet Kitsch evoked Ani diFranco, Suzzane Vega and a bunch of other Contemporary Folk female artists. It just belonged to a different time. It was actually the more pop-ish sound of Begin to Hope that “discovered” her for me. Come to think of it, it was the visual language of Fidelity. I admit her last album, Far, is not one of my favorites. It’s a good catchy album, but it lacks the spark of Begin to Hope and the quirkiness of Soviet Kitsch.
The first time I saw her live was about 2 years ago. She performed solo in Tel Aviv. It was a real treat and gave way to all her quirkiness galore and piano virtuosity. Last night I saw her for the second time, in Seattle’s Paramount Theater this time. This time she performed with a proper band and it felt like the Regina-only charm was somewhat lost. Her piano just didn’t express itself the way it can and should. This all changed halfway through the show when she was left alone on stage and I just fell for her all over again. This is one darling that does it charm best when left alone.

The crowd, by the way, in both gigs was made up of an incredible amount of iphone-itweet-teens. Singing with her (did I come to listen to the screaming sweet sixteen next to me?) and screaming to her whatever came to their mind (there were quite a few “love you”s and a few suggestions regarding children). In some odd way, Regina has been positioned by her record label to attract this crowd.
Another note of warning: do yourself a dear favor and try to skip the warming act of Jupiter One. It varied from plain boring to just being pathetic.

Future tour dates:
10 Nov 2009 20:00 Verizon Wireless Theater Houston, Texas
11 Nov 2009 20:00 Stubbs BBQ Austin, Texas
12 Nov 2009 20:00 Nokia Theatre Dallas, Texas
14 Nov 2009 19:00 Pershing Arena at Truman State University Kirksville, Missouri
16 Nov 2009 19:30 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, Tennessee
17 Nov 2009 20:00 Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Asheville, North Carolina
19 Nov 2009 20:00 Louisville Palace Theatre Louisville, Kentucky
30 Nov 2009 20:00 O2 Academy Birmingham
1 Dec 2009 20:00 Academy Glasgow
3 Dec 2009 20:00 Apollo Manchester
4 Dec 2009 20:00 HMV Hammersmith Apollo London
7 Dec 2009 20:00 Cirkus Stockholm
8 Dec 2009 20:00 Cirkus Stockholm
10 Dec 2009 20:00 Rockefeller Oslo
11 Dec 2009 20:00 Lisebergshallen Gothenburg
13 Dec 2009 20:00 KB Malmo
14 Dec 2009 20:00 Huxleys Neue Welt Berlin
16 Dec 2009 20:00 Gasometer Vienna
17 Dec 2009 20:00 Kaufleuten Zurich
19 Dec 2009 20:00 The O2 Dublin