Courtney Love: Live and Well

Last night, Lori and I saw Hole and Foxy Shazam at the House of Blues in Boston (great place for a show, FYI). I've been a Hole fan ever since I heard their amazing "Live Through This" album back in 1994. In fact, I had tickets to see Hole on tour with Marilyn Manson in 1999, but Courtney pulled out of it after just a few dates. Though I wasn't sure what sort of performance we might get from the wildly unpredictable Ms. Love, I was  psyched to finally see them live - well it really is just Courtney and some hired hands; nobody from prior versions of Hole are in the band today.

I was thrilled with what we got. Courtney was funny, engaging, loose, and playful. I thought she sounded great. She said last night in Phili was her best sounding voice, and tomorrow in NJ will be her destroyed voice - so we got the best rock 'n roll voice. She had lots of interaction with the audience and debated with her band over the set list on multiple occasions, just seeming to wing it often, jamming and making up lyrics on the spot at the end of songs. She mentioned Kurt a couple times, even sang a line from "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at the end of "Awful", and teased "Dirty Water" (the rock and roll ode to Boston) repeatedly during the show. She said how much she loved Boston, more specifically people from Boston. We even learned that one of my favorite songs, "Doll Parts," was written in Boston; at Joyce's house--she asked if anyone knew Joyce. Nobody seemed to. By the end of the night she was showing off her $800 underwear. Ah! There was the Courtney I was expecting.

Opener, Foxy Shazam, was a bizarro blast of mayhem and energy, but they were far from loved by all. If Freddie Mercury had Gumby a love child who fronted Faith No More, you'd get something close to Foxy. Very fun band.

Next week: Lady Gaga!

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Boston Herald Review: Love's a Hole 'nother animal