Aimee Mann @ The State Room

A few months ago a friend asked me what my most played songs in iTunes were. I had no idea. When I experimented with this feature and checked, I was surprised to see Aimee Mann's entire “@#%&*! Smilers” album (the iTunes deluxe bonus track version, more specifically) taking up sixteen of the twenty five available positions. I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised, as this 2008 release quickly became a regular and repeated listen at my day job and when the limited edition physical release originally arrived early that June, it became a staple in my bedroom CD player, and didn't leave until nearly a year later. When the fantastic Miss Mann (AKA Mrs. Michael Penn) announced on her website that she was returning to Utah (having previously played in Deer Valley with Marc Cohn in 2008--a show that regrettably I couldn't attend) in October, this incredible album has again garnered many more spins, hovering around 145 plays per track! Some songs have been played more than others (due to my adding them to other playlists) of course, but this album has such great depth, amazing songs, and hooky, sing-along melodies that it just begs to be revisited.

Aimee Mann's music has always held a special place in my life. I find it comforting, melodic, beautiful and despite the unfortunate and incorrect critical tag line of it being “depressing,” (I would have chosen “realistic” if I wrote reviews back in those days) very uplifting. At the same time it is also literate, humorous, and above all else listenable. I still love the drama of her band ʻTil Tuesday's first hit (and huge hit video)“Voices Carry” and by the time their sophomore effort, “Welcome Home,” arrived, it was obvious that hers was a major talent. ʻTil Tuesday only lasted for three albums, and when she embarked on her solo career, her songwriting started to reveal itself as capable of even greater things. So I was extremely excited about seeing her live for the first time, in a new venue (the great new The State Room), and especially in such an intimate setting: The State Room boasts a capacity of 300. I discovered a fellow Aimee fanatic in a new co-worker and we felt lucky to secure our tickets before the show sold out.

A late attempt at scheduling an interview with Aimee unfortunately fell through, but I was extremely excited about the show itself and brought a selection of her CDs and a Sharpie and had every intention of waiting after the show in an attempt to have them signed. Having visited the venue earlier in the afternoon, I was giddy as I drove Eric (my co-worker) to the show. It had been announced earlier that day that the show had indeed sold out, so we felt honored to have tickets. We witnessed many people being turned away at the door.

The State Room is an amazing new place to see a show; there really isn't a bad seat in the house. I'm not sure if the venue configuration is the same for each concert (for Aimee Mann there were seats--unfortunately, though not surprisingly, all filled--right against the stage and about 5 rows deep) and after the main floor, different, pew-like seats ascend to the back of the house. That is where Eric and I entered and these were starting to fill up fast. I suggested we try the main floor and I'm grateful when he pointed out these small, nondescript tables against the the sides of the stage to stand. Since I wasn't expecting seating in such a small place, it ends up being a great vantage point, as you can see the entire stage. When the surprisingly good opening act, Fountains of Wayne, start their set, we got a true appreciation of our spots: the sound is perfect, there is no one crowding our lines of vision and we have easy access to the lobby. One of the great things about The State Room is that the restrooms and lobby have speakers, so you really aren't missing anything if you have to use them during a show.

There also isn't a curtain on the stage and so as the roadies break down Fountains of Wayne's instruments, and you realize most of the keyboards/equipment remaining (truly a full band's worth, that takes up most of the stage) are for Aimee's set, it was obvious it was going to be a special show. I am most excited, for some reason, when a small foot cymbal is brought out and stationed where she'll be performing. She ends up playing it most of the night. I have purposely not read anything about these shows and have no idea who will be performing with her, the set list, if this will be a show to promote “Smilers” or something else entirely. So when she walks out and greets the crowd and announces that this show will be her and her two accompanists (the great, and amazingly talented Jebin Bruni and Jamie Edwards) playing a selection of some of their favorite songs and a few obscure ones, followed by “requests” I can't believe it. It is a fan's dream come true. At first I think she's kidding about taking requests, and this is when her great command of bantering with the audience first comes out, and it will continue throughout the night. She explains, humorously, that they will be taking “written” requests only, and not things shouted out randomly. She couldn't promise to play all of them, and that she only remembered two ʻTil Tuesday songs, as it had been “25 years ago,” but she would do her best.

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Comments on this article

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Andy

Great review of the show. Had me excited just reading it. Glad you were able to meet with Aimee. Your show sounds like the rest that have been reviewed on Aimee's web site. Sounds like Aimee did it again with another great tour. What an amazing talent she has. Thanks for sharing the review. A fellow Aimee manniac!!

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