Melissa E

Melissa Etheridge
By Kevin C. Johnson
POST-DISPATCH POP MUSIC CRITIC
07/13/2006
Sometimes, it takes adversity for folks to remember the relevancy of a particular talent, as might be the case with Melissa Etheridge. And concerts like her near-three-hour show Wednesday for more than 3,400 fans at the Fox Theatre are great reminders, too. The singer gave a robust performance that showed she has put a 2004 breast cancer diagnosis behind her. Etheridge was the '90s premier female rocker, but her last two studio CDs, 2001's "Skin" and 2004's "Lucky," were commercial disappointments. But after the medical crisis two years ago, she resurfaced at the 2005 Grammys with a knockout performance. On Wednesday night, she spoke about cancer being an awakening and how it made her a better person as she introduced "This is Not Goodbye" and "I Run for Life." Sporting a short, spiky hairdo, she opened the concert with the rousing "Come on Out Tonight," a song whose title seems to carry a double meaning. "Come to My Window," "I'm the Only One" and "Kiss Me" were among high-powered numbers that kept the crowd on its feet. The jamming "Like the Way I Do" displayed a near-combustible level of guitar strumming from Etheridge, who was just as explosive on Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart," the night's highlight. "I Need to Wake Up" was from Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," and she spoke of its global warming theme.
Etheridge remains something of a one-trick pony, with too many of her songs offering the same structure and sentiment. But it's always been one great trick, and the fact she's still able to do it is a triumph.