Back from Beth Malone's show - she was, as always, great. It's a good show, but I ultimately felt that the song selections, most unknown, don't always serve her wonderful storytelling. What happened prior to the show with an opening act that should never have been allowed anywhere (it was allowed because Beth was trying to be nice) was a textbook example of a self-indulgent performer thinking an audience cares about the screwed up life - note to performer: We don't know you and therefore we don't care, not when your act is a laundry list of how awful your life was. After forty-five minutes, Michael Sterling wisely got the hook (after she finished a song, he just got on the loudspeaker and said thank you. She was a little shocked she was done, but everyone in the audience, bar none, was thrilled. At one point I looked at the Hollises and said, "Why don't we all kill ourselves right now."
