Jeff Buckley Brings Greatness To Sheldon

St. Louis Post Dispatch: November 6, 1994

By Brian Q. Newcomb

  Occasionally, one encounters an artist so fresh and unusual that even a less than completely satisfying performance leaves one with the strong conviction that you were in the presence of greatness. Such a voice is Jeff Buckley's; such a night was Friday at the Sheldon Ballroom.

  The Sheldon's top floor was set up with tables and chairs to give Buckley's performance more of a cabaret vibe. But technical difficulties, a dissatisfying mix and long lulls between songs diminished the desired effect.

  Buckley and his able backing band, especially on the opening pair from his Columbia Records debut, "Mojo Pin" and "So Real," came across with power and finesse.

  While technical difficulties persisted, the band muscled through "Last Goodbye" and "Dream Brother," but cranked up "Eternal Life" beyond the album version to a full-on tribute to Led Zeppelin. Buckley's high vocals moved beyond imitation of Robert Plant into territory heretofore unchronicled.

  In contrast, the quiet "Lilac Wine" was served up next drawing the audience into the intricacies and depth of Buckley's pseudo-falsetto vocalese. That was followed with a longish a cappella rendering that had the house leaning forward to hear him in the hush. At once spellbinding, yet mildly pretentious, Buckley was deeply affecting.

  "Lover You Should've Come Over" closed the set, and Buckley was eventually coaxed back by the applause to play the title track of his debut, "Grace." Here, as often before, the guitar parts were insinuating and effective, laying the grounding for even the most ethereal exploration of Buckley's voice.

  One walked away, not wanting more, but wanting another, altogether different opportunity to hear this uniquely talented singer.

  Brenda Kahn's abbreviated opening set was similarly affecting. Her lyrics held the key to the meaning of her music. The hard rocking "Reconcile" came across well, but a spoken word rant with the oft-repeated phrase "I wanted the apple in his mouth," ended up being far more humorous than intended.