December 4, 2014: Portland, Oregon



Rufus Wainwright performed at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon on December 4, 2014. Backstage footage as well as the first six songs of the set were streamed live on the Rufus App.

Set list

 * "Agnus Dei"
 * "Grey Gardens"
 * "Damned Ladies"
 * "Little Sister" (dedicated to his aunt Anna McGarrigle for her 70th birthday)
 * "Out of the Game"
 * "Jericho"
 * "Shakespearean Woman"
 * "Gay Messiah"
 * "The Art Teacher"
 * "In a Graveyard" (dedicated to his mother Kate McGarrigle)
 * "Matinee Idol"
 * "Les feux d'artifice t'appellent"
 * "La Complainte de la Butte"
 * "Millbrook"
 * "Zebulon"
 * "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk"


 * Encore
 * "Going to a Town"
 * "Hallelujah"
 * "Poses"
 * "Foolish Love"

Comments by User:Jason
Rufus sounded the best I've ever heard, truly. Beginning with "Agnus Dei" was unexpected, but a very pleasant surprise. He sounded incredible! He followed with "Grey Gardens," then recalled that he performed in Portland not too long ago, so he wanted to sing some rarities to mix it up a bit ("digging deep in the repertoire"). This prompted "Damned Ladies," another pleasant surprise. Then came "Little Sister," which he dedicated to Anna for her 70th birthday.

He moved from piano to front center stage for guitar performances of "Out of the Game" and "Jericho". Both were fantastic, but "Out of the Game" was particularly impressive. He nailed the vocals, high notes and all! He then performed (premiered?) a new song called "Shakespearean Woman", which he introduced by saying he was inspired by Portland's dreary weather. I also noticed that he very clearly made sure the app stream was cut off before he began singing this song. He may not want bootleg leaks of the song yet, but I can confirm its beauty ("You make me feel like a Shakespearean Woman"). Last on the guitar was "Gay Messiah", which he did not edit like the last time he was in Portland.

Back to the piano for "The Art Teacher", which made my heart melt. He introduced "In a Graveyard" (are you kidding me!?) with a dedication to his mom, which he said was morbid, but he made it work. You could hear a pin drop. I don't think I breathed or blinked during the entire song. Incredible. He followed it with a "happy" song, "Matinee Idol"! Then two songs in French: "Les feux d'artifice t'appellent" and "La Complainte de la Butte". Before performing the aria, he confirmed his work on Hadrian, set to premiere in 2018. He said he has "plenty of time to luxuriate comfortably in [his] own genius. Just kidding. Well, half kidding, if I'm being truthful." He also confirmed that Prima Donna is being recorded in London in January.

He shared a story of his mother visiting Portland and seeing a group of immersion school students speaking French to one another and wearing berets. Kate returned to Montreal and told Rufus about her experience, and it has remained an image Rufus associated with the city. He then introduced "Millbook" by saying it was a song about a school that he had attended. Then "Zebulon," which (hate to say it) is often a track I skip when listening to the album, but I was STUNNED by its beauty live. He ended the set with "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk". Why not!

Encore: "Going to a Town", which he introduced by saying "black lives matter" in reference to the Michael Brown shooting and the Ferguson unrest. The audience responded very kindly to this performance. He then joked that the reason he had Viva was first and foremost because he wanted a daughter, but secondly because I wanted to perform "Hallelujah" every night for the rest of his life. Clearly sarcastic, but humorous nonetheless, and he really did perform the song beautifully. Then "Poses". There are no words. That song and album changed my life years ago. What a treat to hear live. He closed with "Foolish Love". Again... how sentimental to hear live... the first song from his debut album!

He was spot on the whole night, so clearly he has been practicing and preparing. He looked healthy and happy, despite his comments about Portland's dreary weather inspiring him to perform more morose songs. A magical concert, indeed.

Videos
"Shakespearean Woman" (YouTube)

"In a Graveyard" (YouTube)

"Matinee Idol" (YouTube)

"Les feux d'artifice t'appellent" (YouTube)

"Going to a Town" (YouTube)

"Poses" (YouTube)

Links

 * Watch Rufus LIVE from Portland on the App TODAY at Facebook