Life moves along a bumpy road. We often stumble, sometimes at the fault of our own and other times due to unforeseen circumstances or challenging obstacles. Regardless of missteps and mishaps, beauty can be found in even the darkest of places.
Sarah McLachlan has created beautiful music about the human condition throughout her career, but her most recent album Better Broken – her first album of new material in over a decade which was released earlier this year – serves as an enchanting study of life’s ups and downs. During her Nov. 22 stop at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, McLachlan began her set with the album’s title track, setting the scene for a night full of introspective, immaculate music that speaks of universal truths.
The performance was billed as “An Evening with Sarah McLachlan,”so who better to open the show than McLachlan herself. The three-time Grammy Award-winner began with stripped down renditions of new songs as well as classics like “Possession” and “I Will Remember You,” the latter of which found her backing band joining her on stage by the time it was through.
“This [song] is kind of looking at the state of the world these days with a lot of people struggling with the fear and uncertainty of what comes next. And just that idea of, you know you can’t always fix it for someone, but you want to try and help and reach out and do whatever it is you can. Even if it’s just to tell them, ‘It’s gonna be okay,’” said McLachlan prior to playing “Only Human” at the piano early in the night.
Leading into “Adia,” McLachlan, who had moved from the piano to an acoustic guitar, confessed that the song was inspired by a past romance between herself and her best friend’s ex. Long story short, the story has a happy ending and, after a shaky period, the two best friends are still close to this day. “Building a Mystery” soon followed – during which McLachlan’s pitch perfect vocals somehow sounded better than ever if that’s even possible – inspiring one of the evening’s biggest sing-along moments.
The entire show had a “Storytellers” vibe with McLachlan sharing insight into her music making process. “Reminds Me,” she said, was written for her “sweetheart” and its country twang was inspired by the couple’s Yellowstone obsession. Back-up vocalist Melissa McClelland took the lead on a verse before her harmonies with McLachlan created an ethereal auditory experience.
McLachlan switched to an electric guitar for “Wait,” giving her a moment to jam with her talented band while “World on Fire” featured one of the best vocal performances, among a series of stellar vocal performances, as McLachlan seamlessly oscillated between loud and soft, each phrase more expressive than the last. The song also spoke to the moment in which we are living with a thoughtful tenderness.
“Despite the fact that the world seems to be getting scarier and scarier and crazier and crazier, I think it’s so important to be reminded of our shared humanity and perhaps music is one of the last places where we can all be together regardless of our political, social, religious beliefs – and just be together and enjoy this beautiful shared energy.,” McLachlan explained.
“One in a Long Line,” “Ice Cream,” and “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” also appeared on the evening’s setlist.
While there is no live music experience today that compares to Lilith Fair, the late-1990s touring music festival featuring female artists and founded by McLachlan, its legacy continues through McLachlan’s artistry, her philanthropy with the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, and her fandom, which is full of people who recognize that despite the madness in this world, there is still beauty to behold.
Check out photos from Sarah McLachlan’s Nov. 22 stop in Chicago below and click here to buy tickets to future tour dates. More information can be found at Sarahmclachlan.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
