Rufus Wainwright

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 7:17 pm

I just got an event program today for the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, and it seems Rufus is appearing there November 2nd. For any Brits who were impressed on seeing him at the Hal Wilmer concert earlier this year in Brighton, check out if he is performing near you too. http://www.rufuswainwright.com

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:56 am

Just back back home after seeing the show.

Highly recommended! After the half hour spot by sister Martha, there was a short interval and as we raced out to the bar The Future started playing!

Rufus was then on stage for 2 hours and did several encores. At one point he did a new song about Jeff Buckley then followed it immediately with Hallelujah to considerable applause. As we finally left the concert hall the sound system then played Sisters of Mercy, but it didn't sound like Leonard singing it. Has Rufus covered this song as well?

Jonnie Falafel · Post by **Jonnie Falafel** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 7:18 pm

Saw Rufus in Sheffield last Sunday. A couple of Leonard Cohen songs (The Future & Sisters of Mercy) got played over the PA. Rufus was magnificent - camp, operatic & what a piano player. Doesn't his talent surpass his dad's. Now you can't say that about Jacob Dylan!!

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:41 pm

I never saw his father but when I mentioned Rufus at work people asked " is he related to Louden W? He was brilliant when I saw him!" Rufus is on British TV tonight on the Frank Skinner show - ITV at 10.00

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:24 pm

I hadn't heard Rufus Wainwright until I caught the last bit of him singing on TV last night. I'd just come home from seeing The Corporation at the cinema (I highly reccomend).

From what I heard, I was really impressed and will look at some mor music in Manchester tomorrow.

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:58 pm

They repeated the programme on Friday night. I wasn't keen on how Frank conducted the interview, but should be grateful for giving me the introduction. I think it is fair to say I have an new musicl obsession. What a voice and what a performer. I searched almost every record store in Manchester yesterday, but couldn't find one album. I'll go back on Wednesday or Thursday.

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 11:14 pm

His current album Want (one) is worth getting, but could be out of stock as a result of his UK tour, which ends in London tomorrow. Try the internet suppliers at amazon or play.com or cdwow.com A new cd Want (two) is due out soon.

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 7:59 pm

I've just been back into Manchester and HMV have all his albums back in stock.

I did something I rarely do and purchased all three.

I look forward to many happy hours of listening. I already love the first one and was pleased to see that Annie Whitehead plays on his Want album. She is a musician I really admire. She can play the trombone like no one else.

Simon · Post by **Simon** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 5:38 pm

You can also find Rufus on at least 2 soundtrack albums:

MOULIN ROUGE, on which he sings one song in french.

http://www.clubmoulinrouge.com/mr1.htm

I AM SAM, on which he covers "Across the Universe" of the Beatles.

http://www.newline.com/sites/iamsam/

There was a clip of this last cover on the Net for a while but it seems to have been removed. Maybe it is on the DVD of the movie.

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 3:37 pm

His new album, Want Two, should be out soon, with a DVD. I know I have only just been introduced to this great man (thanks to here

) but I am really looking forward to it. I've been playing his three albums all week up in The Lake District.

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 5:23 pm

Rufus is nowheres near the clever songwriter Loudon Wainwright III is (be sure to hear "Rufus is a tit-man," written during Rufus' infancy) and though he has his father's name is more his mother's son than Loudon's. He should be named Rufus McGarrigle but we live in a patrilineal naming society. Rufus has a personality and physical appearance that appeals to the audience but I find his singing style mannered and annoying, his songs unmemorable.

Bobbie · Post by **Bobbie** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:06 pm

I have had Rufus' "Want One" album almost since it was released, and have only been able to listen once (and a half.. or so). Still, I found him to be absolutely brilliant and stunning in live performance at the Wilner tribute in Brooklyn last year... dunno, his dynamic stage presence just doesn't seem to translate over to his albums (for me, anyway) - something about them that feels similar to fingernails on a chalkboard to me. In my opinion, Martha is the most talented member of the entire lot, including dad, mom, brother, and aunt, with her unmistakably unique and sensuous energy coming through loud and clear even in her recordings. I really hope she makes it big someday.

Bobbie

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 11:17 am

Want One is very hard album and now I heard that Want Two got bad reviews because it's more hard. He should do it more straighforward, his music.
I have last year's NYC tribute show rec - Rufus was great, but Martha (his sister, I guessed?) totally got me - she was the best part of that show. Did she released anything?

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 10:15 pm

I only became aware of Rufus (and others in the family) when I saw the Hal Wilmer tribute concert in Brighton UK. Maybe he's not one of the all-time great singer-songwriters, but he impressed me enough to see him do a whole concert. It was well worth the price of a ticket and he is much better live than on his records. Martha also appeared, but to be honest, she was disappointing that night.

Tom, I believe she has made some recordings.

Off topic, I noticed recently when looking through the Hydra 2002 event, that Martha was there, and sang. She was also on a photograph with Lorca.

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 11:53 pm

Have you listened to any of Loudon Wainwright's early albums? I remember when Leonard Cohen was in his audience, when Loudon was starting out in 1970. Loudon quickly went from a small club in the Village to the Albert Hall. Try to get his first album.