Last Chance Texaco. Front row last night.

Saw Rickie Lee Jones and Madeleine Peyroux at the Mtn. Winery in Saratoga, Ca last night. Front row. My wife bought the tickets and didn't tell me where we were sitting so I was pretty stoked when we arrived and went all the way down to the front. Fantastic performances and sonics. The PA system was behind us so we got to hear the acoustic version. Pretty cool. Madeleine's singing was of course great but who knew she has such great wit? Terrific band that sounded so good up close-we were eight feet from the center of the drum kit. Madeleine and her band were so good I wondered how Rickie was going to top that. Not a problem. Her voice might be better than ever and she was wonderful with the crowd and absolutely charming.

Best concert ending I've ever seen. She finished the show with Last Chance Texaco. Right before she started the song one of her helpers says to her "Rickie the PA system turns off in three minutes". (The outdoor venue has a 10:30 noise curfew) She says "C'mon this one takes three-and-a-half" and she starts the song. Know how that song fades out at the end? Sure enough thirty seconds before the song ends the PA system fades out and we are left with Rickie playing and singing solo unamplified with her acoustic guitar to an absolutely rapt audience. It was a perfect ending.