Hopewell, VA – Her name is Suzanne Vega and she has a lot of stories to tell. Admittedly, I thought all her stories would be in the form of very serious folky rock music as most folk is. Yes, we got the music, but on the night of April 27, 2023 at the Beacon Theatre in Hopewell, VA Suzanne not only delivered an evening of meaningful music she added wonderful stories about the music and its meaning.
When Vega took the stage, she took a magician’s top hat, popped it, and put it on. With the wave of a microphone, the magic had begun!! Kicking off with “Marlene on the Wall” from her debut album, Suzanne Vega. Inspired by a poster with a picture of actress Marlene Dietrich, this song is the perfect opener (opening the show with her opening song).
Removing the hat she went into “Small Blue Thing“, a unconventional love song. Putting her guitar aside, she then performed the Copacabanaesque Bossa Nova tune, “Caramel“. Three songs, three different stories from three different points of view. This is Suzanne!
The show took a very personal turn with “Gypsy“, “In Liverpool” (with a Hunchback theme), and “The Queen and the Soldier“. As it turns out, these 3 songs were a love trilogy of sorts that all started when camp counselors met one summer, both sharing a love for Leonard Cohen music. As the summer was coming to an end, she did not want to admit it was coming to an end. Suzanne gave him a promise, he gave her a bandana. The Beacon audience loved the story!! I will not give away too much of the story (you have to hear it for yourself), but a few things to know… If you once dated Suzanne you are expected to own a copy of Solitude Standing (not have your significant other bring out her copy) and her mother had a much better understanding of her music than Suzanne thought (so who is the tall skinny guy?). Oh yeah, and she still has the bandana.
Of course, a show would not be complete without a little audience participation. I have seen some pretty tense moments in a show when a phone goes off during a time when everyone is intently listening. Vega handled it like a champ!! “Is that your watch?”. “No it is my phone, I am so fucking embarrassed right now!!” The audience got a good laugh! Rather than just going on, she told us a story of a similar experience she had in Belgium. It was classic! Of course I do NOT endorse having a friend call you while at any performance, especially if you are at a Vega show, she will make you part of the story!!
The tales continued with a little about Elvis Costello. They are friends and have worked together in the past. She decided to ‘inflict’ a little Elvis music on us with “When Heroes Go Down / Lipstick Vogue“, which was an Costello style song with a little Elvis in the middle… an “Elvis sandwich” as she called it.
Before going into a couple songs she has dedicated to the people of Ukraine, Vega introduced us to her guitarist and sometimes backing vocalist, Gerry Leonard. Gerry has quite a resume’ himself and has been supporting Suzanne for many years, both on stage and songwriting.
She dedicated “Rock in This Pocket (Song of David)” to the Ukrainian people. The song depicts the story of David and Goliath. The symbolism was wonderful, as David vanquished a larger and better equipped foe with only a stone. “Last Train From Mariupol” followed, which is a new song, also dedicated to Ukraine and is filled with musical images of masses fleeing.
To be honest, I expected all the stories to be in the music, but the most fun was the stories behind the stories in the music. Suzanne had us all in the palm of her hands as she shared the magic with us. Thankfully, after a standing O with the conclusion of the final 2 songs, her best known “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner“, she came out to tell a few more.
First on the encore list was a Lou Reed song, “Walk on the Wild Side“, perfect for Vega’s style. While he did not play it much, it has grown to be an iconic cover for Vega. I liked her version.
She noted that many of her concerts are in harbor towns and asked if that was true of Hopewell. As it turns out, Hopewell does not have a harbor, instead is home to part of the Appomattox River. Now they had a few issues pronouncing the name, but Suzanne and Gerry got the picture as they went into “Harbor Song“.
The night ended quite fittingly, with a fun song with a somber name and a wonderful background story, “Tombstone“. With the sad demise of Morris (her cat), mother washed him and gave him a Viking burial at sea in a shoebox (I imaged a flaming shoebox with Wagner’s “Götterdämmerung – Siegfried’s Funeral March” filling the air). When Suzanne goes, she does not want it to be as glorious, a simple tombstone will suffice. A serious message with a funny background from a different perspective. That was the magic of this night with Suzanne Vega.
Suzanne Vega Gallery
Suzanne Vega Setlist
Marlene on the Wall
Small Blue Thing
Caramel
Gypsy
In Liverpool
The Queen and the Soldier
When Heroes Go Down / Lipstick Vogue
Rock in This Pocket (Song of David)
Last Train From Mariupol
Solitude Standing
Left of Center
I Never Wear White
Some Journey
Luka
Tom’s Diner
Encore:
Walk on the Wild Side
Harbor Song
Tombstone
Show Date: April 27, 2023
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