Austin, Texas (August 2007)



Rufus Wainwright performed at Stubb's Bar-B-Q (801 Red River) in Austin, Texas on August 11, 2007. Neko Case and A Fine Frenzy served as opening acts.

Set list

 * 1) "Release the Stars"
 * 2) "Going to a Town"
 * 3) "Sanssouci"
 * 4) "Rules and Regulations"
 * 5) "Tulsa"
 * 6) "The Art Teacher"
 * 7) "Tiergarten"
 * 8) "Leaving for Paris No. 2"
 * 9) "Between My Legs"
 * 10) "Harvester of Hearts"
 * 11) "Do I Disappoint You?"
 * 12) "A Foggy Day"
 * 13) "If Love Were All"
 * 14) "Nobody's Off the Hook"
 * 15) "Beautiful Child"
 * 16) "Not Ready to Love"
 * 17) "Slideshow"
 * 18) "Macushlah"
 * 19) "14th Street"
 * 20) "I Don't Know What It Is"
 * 21) "Pretty Things"
 * 22) "La Complainte de la Butte" (entirely in French)
 * 23) "Get Happy"
 * 24) "Gay Messiah"

Comments by User:Jason
While I knew this concert would not top the previous one (for obvious reasons), I was thrilled to see Rufus yet again, back in Austin, Texas!

Whoever decided it would be a good idea to have an outdoor concert in Texas in the middle of August was not very bright. The high was at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and if you have not been to Texas... you don't know what heat + humidity is. I knew we were in for a long, hot, sweaty evening.

We walked from our hotel to the venue around 5:00, and the line had already began to form. We chatted with some message board members. It was so hot, and the sun had yet to go down--these fans were dedicated! After waiting a few hours, we finally entered the venue. Again, A Fine Frenzy were fantastic. That girl was so damn adorable! Neko Case were good as well, and they were definitely more well-known in Austin, as many fans were present in the audience.

Soon it was time for Rufus! After waiting for hours, sweating and complaining about the smoldering Texas heat, we soon forgot it all as Rufus entered the stage in a red, white and blue-striped outfit with attached broaches, red boots, and a white cowboy hat! He looked incredible!... and insane at the same time. It was something only he could pull off.

The concert started with a bang--"Release the Stars". The crowd was so loud, Rufus kept thanking us, and I think he was a little taken aback by his welcome. He debated if he looked "handsome or cute," and had us applaud for which we preferred. After "Sanssouci", he mentioned that he borrowed the cowboy hat, and debated putting a broach on the hat. However, he decided not too as it would be "too rock 'n roll" (see video clip at YouTube). He told us were were brave for having an outdoor show in Austin the middle of August (as if it were our choice!)

He sounded phenomenal, and didn't miss a note the whole evening. While the sound quality was not as nice as in Grand Prairie, as it was an outdoor event, everything sounded okay to me in terms of volume. "The Art Teacher" seemed to be a crowd favorite. It was nice to hear uninterrupted performance of "Tiergarten" and "Leaving for Paris No. 2" (as I was distracted the night before). Rufus introduced Rebecca Havemeyer onto the stage for the spoken word part of "Between My Legs". She was funny, but kind of ran around the stage like a headless chicken. But, when it came time to say the lines, it was delivered flawlessly, and the crowd cheered!

"Do I Disappoint You?" really stood out, as did the Judy Garland songs. "Beautiful Child" and "Slideshow" were epic; "Macushlah" was dedicated to his mother, and performed with a microphone, as the shape of the venue was very elongated, and people in the back surely would not have heard him. (Seriously... if you looked back from the very front where we were, you could see people as far as you could imagine.) Nonetheless, the song was beautiful, and everyone was thoroughly impressed.

Keep in mind, we were all standing in line before the show, during two opening acts, and through the entire concert in 100 degree weather. By the end of the show, people were starting to take a beating, and I cannot imagine how Rufus and the band felt. However, I was impressed with how well the crowd responded, given the environment they were put in.

While "Pretty Things" and "La Complainte de la Butte" were slow and kind of brought down the excitement from "I Don't Know What It Is", they were executed perfectly. Such beautiful songs... just a little difficult to enjoy completely while so exhausted. But again, all thoughts were discarded once "Get Happy" began. The audience went crazy when he started dancing, along with the other band members! And of course, "Gay Messiah" was a hit.

Overall, the show was incredible! I would never wish anyone to be out in that heat as long as we were. I can't imagine how it was on stage all night. Rufus performed amazingly well despite this set back. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet with Rufus afterwards. However, Jack came out and told us he was expecting the show to be a tough one to get through (due to the heat), but that he had a wonderful time and truly loved being in Texas. Jörn was present again, though I only saw him once when he walked across the stage to find his concert-watching position.

One more spectacular show to add to my list. I simply hope it is not as long until I am able to see him live again!

Review: Austin American-Statesman
From the 'Weekend Review' section of the Austin American-Statesman and austin360.com:

"Music: Rufus Wainwright and Neko Case"

''Rufus Wainwright charmed the pants off Austin on Saturday night. His blend of stage theatrics and solid pop opera songwriting made for an endearing and captivating stage show. The singer shook the stage at a sold-out Stubb's with triumphant, clamoring numbers full of horns, piano and commanding vocals as well as vulnerable songs, featuring just him and his grand piano under a spotlight. Every sustained note, playful anecdote and colorful wardrobe change throughout his set of mostly new songs off "Release the Stars" as well as a few old favorites and covers brought on applause.''

''Wainwright and band began the night in striped, spirited costumes adorned with glittery pieces of flair. But the loud outfits didn't confuse the intent of the tragically forlorn, solo piano love ballad "The Art Teacher" under the dimmed stage lights. Then, in a turn to the more upbeat, Wainwright brought a contest winner in drag on stage to provide an interpretive dance during the energetically baritone "Between My Legs," which was filled out with trumpet and french horn. During the encore and third costume change, Wainwright donned high heels and a tux for a choreographed, lip-synched performance with his band to their own rendition of "Get Happy," a tune popularized by Judy Garland.''

''Austin also had a warm welcome back for red-headed, alt-country heroine Neko Case. Her strong and distinct voice, acoustic guitar and waves of pedal steel on the crowd favorite "I Wish I Was the Moon" would have made a great soundtrack to cool desert stargazing with the occasional coyote howl, but instead everyone was packed in a close-quarters sweat-a-thon. Alison Sudol, another fiery-maned singer/songwriter, and the rest of A Fine Frenzy opened with a short set of voluptuous pop songs off her recent debut.''

— William Mills

Videos
"Tulsa" (YouTube)

"Between My Legs" (YouTube)

"Between My Legs" (YouTube)

"Get Happy" (YouTube)