By and large, I completely missed Joan As PoliceWoman. She was finishing up a song as I strolled into the room. But it didn’t matter, because she would be on the stage again shortly as one of Rufus Wainwright’s entourage. And an entourage it was. Keyboards, guitars, drums, percussion, and of course, Wainwright and his piano. He had two female backup singers, of which one was Joan Roy, and the other, Shannon McNally (who reminded me a bit of Liv Tyler). Both these girls, on top of having gorgeous voices, played a ton of different instruments. Particularly Roy, who played violin, guitar, and many percussion pieces.

Wainwright stayed at his piano for a few songs before finally getting up and playing an acoustic guitar. He’s very open and easygoing about his homosexuality, and throughout the set he laughingly engaged the crowd with tales of his former lusts and lovers, even a commentary on the men he’d seen around Vancouver that day. He mentioned that the men in Vancouver seem to all either be athletic, or “in that alleyway back there.” He was referring to the dismal, smelly alley behind the venue that plays host to many vagrants and addicts all day long.

He sang “Hallelujah,” but forgot some of the words, and followed it with a song about Leonard Cohen. He told us he was going to perform with Nick Cave. “Gay rumba versions of Doris Day songs…” He had a thing for an art teacher once, and he had a thing for an oil rig worker from Calgary who he managed to sleep with, but who turned out to be straight. He commented on the heat of the stage lights, and on his bracelet, which was actually just a necklace. He just had so many stories to tell, and through it all he showed his vulnerability and his downfalls, his screwups and how he’s bounced back from all the turmoil he’s ever faced (whether that turmoil is sleeping with straight men, or going through rehab, or dealing with family issues). He seems happy now. Good.

He claimed "11:11" is the best song he’d ever written. He sang songs in French. He used his odd, nasally, mumbling voice in the best possible way. He drank tea from a cup he kept on his piano. There was a picture of a witch on his piano. He did silly little things with his face and eyes that made him receive coos from the crowd (which I’m sure is much of the point with him). The Commodore erupted in cheers when he began “Foolish Love,” but then the crowd settled down into the quietest hush I think I have ever heard there. Seriously, not a sound, no glasses clinking, not even anyone singing along. Wainwright just lulled everyone into a dozy, drifting state of rapture, until the song began to pick up, and then the audience was right back in it. He broke strings during “Beautiful Child.” The whole band came out for a front-of-stage bow at the end of the set.

To huge fanfare, they all ran off stage, and in a few moments, came wandering back on with one key difference. All of the people on stage were now wearing black witch hats and capes. I never received any full explanation for this, but the only hint I have has something to do with an old image of his mother, Kate McGarrigle, dressed up as a witch. Whatever the reason, they swished about in those capes, with Wainwright particularly theatrical, and sang “Oh What A World,” the huge, orchestral opening track on the latest Want One disc. At the end of the song, everyone took some time to melt down to the ground just like that old "Wizard of Oz" movie. You definitely get a show out of Rufus Wainwright.

He came out for a second encore later, which included “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk,” from the Poses album. It was a pretty long show all together, and there was really never a dull moment. Was everything very put-together, almost planned? Yes indeed, it came across more as a structured Broadway show than a spontaneous concert, but that’s part of what sets Wainwright apart from anyone else. He loves being in that spotlight, sharing his lives and experiences with everyone. It’s a glorious thing!

Elsewhere

By Andy Scheffler
Photos : Andy Scheffler
Published : May 27, 2004.