REVIEW

Concert Review: Vanessa Carlton "Bites" Las Vegas Festival

Written by Daryl D
Published October 28, 2007

The Bite of Las Vegas is an annual event held at the Desert Spring Park at Spring Mountain and Durango in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year felt as good as the rest. The birds were singing as the kids played. The green grass swayed to the left, then right, then back to the left. The sun was shining like the heavens above. All seemed perfect until a has-been pop act, known as Vanessa Carlton, walked on stage. I have to give her credit for taking away the audience’s attention, if only for a short while. It was as if everybody was waiting for her to play her 2002 mega-hit, “A Thousand Miles.” It was the second to last song and as one can predict, everybody walked away after they got their cheap thrill of a concert moment.  

Don’t get me wrong: “A Thousand Miles” is one of the best singles released this decade. I would have to say it’s probably one of the five best, but it’s been hard to compile a list since good music is a rarity this decade. But one good song among more than thirty others doesn’t make a great pop artist. Being an expert at playing the piano may make one a great pianist, but not a pop musical act that can move an audience.

It’s also quite obvious that Vanessa Carlton didn’t learn, from Mariah Carey. Being able to hit almost every note – within two seconds at times – does not make one a great singer if the notes she hits make no emotional connection to the lyrics she is singing.

Five years ago, critics hailed Vanessa Carlton as the act that would save us from the hottest three pop acts at the time: Britney Spears, Janet Jackson and Madonna. It’s not that these three acts have a whole lot in common, but since they’re female artists who use their sexuality, they not only get ignorantly lumped together, but are put into the “no talent” category among the musical elite. You see, to be taken seriously as a female pop star, you have to dress in jean shorts and masculine outfits. You also have to play an instrument and pretend to be poetic. Then, the musical elite will love you.

Vanessa Carlton fit the perfect model for the musical elite: she didn’t lip-sync like Britney Spears nor did she welcome the gay community like Madonna and Janet Jackson did. The only sexually provocative thing she did was wear tight jeans or jean shorts. To the musical elite, the tight jeans didn’t matter as long as it wasn’t a tight or short skirt.  

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Daryl, who thinks that both Democrats and Republicans are ruining our country, is a freelance writer who writes articles on politics, technology, and entertainment. If you want to send him feedback on any of his articles (good or bad) don't hesitate to email him at report345@yahoo.com.
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Concert Review: Vanessa Carlton "Bites" Las Vegas Festival
Published: October 28, 2007
Type: Review
Section: Music
Filed Under: Music: Pop, Music: Live Concerts
Writer: Daryl D
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Comments

#1 — October 28, 2007 @ 14:31PM — James

I find this portion of your article particuraly distasteful: "I fantasized about running up on stage, spitting at Venessa (and telling her it's poetic rain), breaking her piano keys and throwing them at her face."

What a childish reaction, it's just sad that you had to include that in your article, like or dislike her style and music as you may but your opinion could have far more tactful without the inclusion of that vulgar statement.

Personally I love her new album, it's enriched deeply reflective and thoughtful lyrics with beautiful musical instrumentals that fit the mood of her songs, beautiful yet sad at the same time, not the same trash that Britney and others spew onto the airwaves.

#2 — October 28, 2007 @ 15:58PM — daryl d

I was obviously being sarcastic, in a crude way, with my semi-violent fantasy. But if you were at the show, you would understand that most of the audience felt this way. As I mentioned, Vanessa certainly has the fingers and pipes, but what good are they when she can't make a connection to an audience that was more than willing to give her a chance.

#3 — October 28, 2007 @ 19:44PM — Shades

How does she make a connection with you, Daryl....spit at you? Don't pretend that you can speak for the whole audience. V puts on a great live show. Isn't that what you were reviewing?

#4 — October 28, 2007 @ 19:51PM — Train Wreck

I'm curious as to why you attended the concert in the first place. You don't seem to have any knowledge or liking of her music beyond her one big hit. Plus, you seem extremely irritated at having to sit through the performance.

What made you want to go to the show to begin with? What were you expecting that you didn't get?

#5 — October 28, 2007 @ 22:34PM — daryl d

There were other people playing besides Vanessa. "The Bite of Las Vegas" features a lot of food and a lot of different acts. I was forced to sit through Vanessa because the people I was with wanted to. Like me, they were disappointed.

#6 — October 29, 2007 @ 00:22AM — Anon

What a load of bullshit.

#7 — October 29, 2007 @ 00:23AM — Anon

And Vanessa is one of the few who actually does make a connection with her audience, so NEXT.

#8 — October 29, 2007 @ 01:10AM — B [URL]

I think in your article you are missing the entire point of who Vanessa Carlton is and where she is musically. Most people will associate her with A Thousand Miles and assume that she will always strive to make music like that. Much to the contrary, the majority of Vanessa's work delves into very much an adult contemporary or Hot AC context, with much of the music being fairly abstract or open to interpretation.

Vanessa has always been pretty strong about her sound and not wanting to change the way she does music to sell records. That is what a lot of the content on Heroes & Thieves is about, how there has been a lot of pressure on her to change her sound to sell records but she hasn't done it.

Vanessa is happy with who she is and where she is musically. There are a lot of people who have really enjoyed her musical growth as she has grown from Be not Nobody to Harmonium to Heroes & Thieves.

Just because Vanessa has trended away from the formula which is considered her commercial success doesn't mean she can't relate to a crowd or she sucks or whatever interpretation you want to have about her. She relates to HER crowd, the type of people that dig her music. When she opened shows for Stevie Nicks, she received many positive reviews, as her style of music fits more of the old school model many fans who would come to see Nicks appreciated.

As fan I'd like to see Vanessa get a lot of respect from the masses, but I know there won't be another song like ATM from her that the masses will eat up. And if that is true, maybe she won't ever get another platinum record. However, if she doesn't compromise who she is and still makes music she is proud to release, she probably will be happy with that, and as a fan I will be too.

I'm sorry you weren't feeling her show, and while it is your right to write what you did, I don't think it appropriate to try and trash someone like you did simply because you were disappointed with their show.

#9 — October 29, 2007 @ 09:18AM — Ben

I understand what you're saying in some parts of your "review", but looking at the critical reviews of Vanessa's albums it seems that she has gotten better with each album?

Which makes me think your whole "...have not even been certified wood. There's a reason for this and it's not because audiences don't appreciate good music." statement seem a bit flawed..

But I will say that I think Vanessa's songs have meaning and they are beautifully crafted, however I think sometimes live she needs to put more emotion into her performances to engage the audience. She's not telling a story if she is just playing a piano and singing a tune - she needs to connect!

But still, way too harsh.

#10 — October 29, 2007 @ 09:36AM — Natalie

There was absolutely no reason you needed to be as rude as you were in this review. I have attended concerts that I have not liked, and while I would share my more personal opinion with friends, I would never have written this way in a magazine which I assume is meant to be a credible and professional publication.
It was not as if Vanessa personally offended you in any way that required an attack back at her. You should have gone to the concession stand during her act and saved yourself from looking ignorant and immature.
I have been to more than one Vanessa Carlton concert and found her witty and charming, not to mention extremely talented. I would advise anyone reading this article not to look toward you as a credible source.

#11 — October 29, 2007 @ 10:36AM — rhodes

One of the meanest reviews I've ever read for a concert. Also one of the most hilarious and witty as well.

Actually, I am a former A&M (Vanessa's former label) promoter. There is a reason she left our label and it's not because she wanted to. We had NO use for her. She was a complete snob and couldn't face the fact she was a one hit wonder. She also thought of herself as "smart" but she was more ditsy than Paris Hilton.

Vanessa probably knows or has an idea who this is. I hope she's enjoying the "newfound" success she's having at her new label. Her album came out two weeks ago. Too bad only about ten people bought it and they're all posting here!

#12 — October 29, 2007 @ 12:31PM — Kate

Look pal, there's a difference between writing a negative review and writing pure slander. Obviously you've got some, as you Americans call it, "issues" ("I fantasized about running up on stage, spitting at Venessa, breaking her piano keys and throwing them at her face.") but there is no need to broadcast it to the world by slagging some poor girl you've never even met - it's not her fault you're retarded.

#13 — October 29, 2007 @ 12:51PM — Shades

Rhodes, I'm skeptical that you're truly an A&M promoter as you say because although you show bitterness in your comments and your continued interest in Vanessa after she left the label, you also show teriible unprofessionalism in your comments. Would a true A&M employee risk getting their comments spotted by, say, Ron Fair, head of A&M? I don't think so.

It's also unbeleivable that an A&M promoter would show their face here simply because "Harmonium" is a great album that failed because it NEVER GOT PROMOTED! A&M promotions failed miserably in doing their job.

#14 — October 29, 2007 @ 15:42PM — rhodes

Notice I said the word FORMER but given that you are a fan of this Vanessa doll it is understandable that you have a limited vocabulary. Like I said, if you knew her in person you would NOT be a fan of hers because she is arrogant, ugly, two-faced and a lot of other things I can't say here.

#15 — October 29, 2007 @ 15:47PM — ally

To each their own, I guess. Your review is well written but clearly unprofessional and immature. The only snob I sense in this entire situation is you.

Don't take yourself too seriously.

#16 — October 29, 2007 @ 17:53PM — tsuki

So what if Vanessa is an arrogant snob like you say, rhodes? That doesn't mean that she can't make great music.

#17 — October 30, 2007 @ 10:29AM — ar

This article is a joke. I've never read anything more unprofessional. It's like reading an article from a middle school newspaper.

#18 — November 2, 2007 @ 03:24AM — Nicole

Who the hell do you think you are? You sound like a huge snob. This article tells nothing important about the concert (hint: YOUR personal opinion is NOT fact) and your sarcasm isn't funny in the least. My dog could have written a better review. And what is this bullshit about Vanessa's voice not connecting with the lyrics? SHE wrote the damn songs so I think she makes the decisions there. Maybe if you actually took the time to listen instead of fantasizing about spitting on her, you would have heard a beautiful person pouring out her heart and soul.

#19 — November 5, 2007 @ 02:08AM — boi111

I am not a huge fan of Vanessa's music but I do agree that this article is unprofessional. Again what was with that childish fantasy, can you have been more immature? And, what did you expect? Vanessa Carlton plays piano themed songs and ballads. Were you expecting heavy metal? I think you simply don't like this music but you should not judge her based on preconceived notions. I thought you gave harsh criticisms with nothing to warrant your attacks. GROW UP!

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