Triumphant Etheridge hits an emotional chord with fans

Monday, June 26, 2006 KYLE O'BRIEN


Melissa Etheridge is more important now than ever before in her career. She gives a musical voice to those unsung, and her personal struggles are chronicled in her music for all to hear, as she proved to an adoring, packed crowd Saturday night during a nearly three-hour show at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

Since her debut album in 1988, Etheridge has mixed her career and her life. She burst onto the scene with a powerful, raspy, Janis Joplin-like voice, earning Grammy nominations and multi-platinum albums. In 1993, Etheridge came out as a lesbian, winning praise from the gay community and discovering a sense of purpose. In October 2004, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her fight with the disease and triumphant return to the stage at the 2005 Grammy Awards inspired millions.

Many of those touched by Etheridge were there Saturday, including a large lesbian contingent, whom she acknowledged right off the bat with the bluesy rocker "Come on Out Tonight."

Etheridge was particularly chatty during the show, explaining the reasons behind her music. "I've got a lot to say nowadays," she said as she strummed her 12-string guitar. "I'm learning that you can do anything."

The concert leaned heavily on themes of love and activism. Etheridge, looking healthy, relaxed and comfortable, told of her past loves and losses, her personal battle with cancer, her chemotherapy, her spouse, Tammy, and her personal causes.
While some of Etheridge's music is formulaic, following the traditional rock verse/chorus/bridge mold, her smoking-hot band raised the bar, giving her music vitality and focus. Bass player Mark Browne was inventive and solid, while drummer Fritz Lewak bashed the energy level up a few notches. But it was guitarist Philip Sayce who wowed. The young Canadian's fiery solos on such tunes as "Refugee" and "Bring Me Some Water" were jaw-dropping, recalling Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen, and his rapport with Etheridge provided infectious energy.

Etheridge's earlier songs about love, such hits as "I'm the Only One" and "I Want to Come Over," had audience members holding hands and hugging, but it was her newfound activist lyrics that inspired the most.

Her new song, "I Need to Wake Up" from Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth," rolled activism into a pop rock ballad, while "Tuesday Morning" told the sad tale of a gay passenger on Flight 93.

Her breast cancer messages also hit personal, emotional chords. "This Is Not Goodbye" was a poignant, life-affirming ballad. "I Run for Life" told her story and those of other cancer survivors. Etheridge even noted that the guitars and drums from the tour will be auctioned off to benefit breast cancer research.

"Fellow survivors, I know you're out there," she shouted as the audience cheered.
After a sizzling version of Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" and two encores, including the thundering rocker, "Like the Way I Do," Etheridge proved, at 45, that having cancer has given her new life, a revived career and plenty of reasons to keep on rocking.

Kyle O'Brien is a Portland freelance writer.

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