Packed in tightly on both levels of the venue, St. Vincent’s Columbus fans buzzed as the talented multi-instrumentalist tackled an impressive 22-song set list at Express LIVE! last Wednesday night. The Oklahoma-born singer-songwriter recently released her fifth studio album, Masseduction, in mid-October to wide critical and commercial acclaim. The set became her first top 10 album on the Billboard Top 200 chart, an achievement she replicated in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand.
The show, divided into two distinct sections, was a flashy, futuristic aural and visual feast in pure technicolor. The top half, focused primarily on singles from the singer’s first four albums dating back to her 2007 debut, Marry Me, while the second led the audience through a track-by-track replay of the entirety of Masseduction. A quick set and costume change between acts replaced the initially softly-curtained, mauve-hued stage with a floor-to-ceiling Times Square-esque LCD wall, whose imagery was so intensely vivid it made the artist difficult to see at points. The production was dramatic, but it was perfectly matched to its soundtrack. Whether or not you came to the show as a St. Vincent die-hard, it was a fascinating and sharply-crafted piece of theatre.
But throughout, St. Vincent’s pungent mezzo-soprano rose clear above the mix, and her agility as a rock guitarist was incredibly fun to watch.
The artist’s Fear The Future tour will continue across the country through May, including two performances at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April. From there’s she will head overseas to a series of dates currently scheduled in Spain and Slovakia.
St. Vincent’s Fear The Future Set List:
Act 1: “Marry Me” / “Now, Now” / “The Strangers” / “Actor Out of Work” / “Strange Mercy” / “Cruel” / “Cheerleader” / “Digital Witness” / “Rattlesnake” / “Birth In Reverse”.
Act 2: “Hang On Me” / “Pills” / “Masseduction” / “Sugarboy” / “Los Ageless” / “Happy Birthday, Johnny” / “Savior” / “New York” / “Fear The Future” / “Young Lover” / “Dancing With a Ghost” / “Slow Disco” / “Smoking Section”.
More information about St. Vincent, including where to buy her most recent album, “Masseduction”, can be found on her official website. You can also follow her on Twitter @st_vincent.