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 Nelly Furtado performs before a crowd of 4,400 at the Shaw Conference Centre last night. Furtado's latest album is called Loose. (Darryl Dyck, Sun Media) |
EDMONTON - Nelly Furtado for prime minister!
Well, maybe not. Furtado may well be Canada's current chanteuse of choice - the belle of the ball - but if you were checking the ballot boxes and tallying votes at the Shaw Conference Centre last night, something just didn't add up.
Furtado's stock has soared "Like a Bird" since her last visit to Edmonton.
So much so, that the question of "Why is she playing at Shaw and not Rexall Place?" could be heard now and again, including from a couple of honchos representing 91.7 the Bounce - the station's been playing singles from Furtado's latest album, Loose, relentlessly since its release last year.
In a way, her return to Edmonton should have been more occasion than mere concert.
But word at the gates that the crowd of 4,400 wasn't quite a sellout was really something of a head-scratcher.
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Christina Aguilera packed Rexall just a couple weeks ago, so you'd be inclined to think Nelly would be able to fill the same venue, let alone at Shaw. Again, maybe not - obviously not.
Furtado's last Edmonton date during Capital Ex's inaugural Ed Fest concert series last summer was also somewhat disappointing, though not necessarily through any fault of her own.
Granted, even then - before Loose became the best-selling Canadian CD of 2006; before a guest appearance on CSI: New York; and before the declaration of Nelly Furtado Day in her hometown of Victoria - promoters smartly viewed her as Ed Fest's crown jewel. Unfortunately, as a crown, Ed Fest was mostly tin hat - poorly attended, poorly executed. Under those circumstances - letting her off the hook somewhat - the Furtado show was fine, just not fantastic.
So many positives have happened since then, however, that last night's concert should have been - no, had to be - better.
And it was.
The biggest improvement is how Furtado's reconciled Loose, a truly studio-based album with genius beat-maker Timbaland at the helm, into a live show, complete with a band. It's a challenge virtually every pop R&B act is faced with respect to tours - Aguilera was up to it. K-os most definitely was not.
Furtado's backup band - drummers, keys, guitars, bass, dancers, etc. - felt more polished than the last outfit she came here with. She has, however, said herself that the album's success has enabled her to dress things up a little -- and rightfully so.
The drape hiding the stage dropped to reveal a big staircase setup that felt somewhat compacted by the Shaw ceiling - or maybe more intimate, depending on your view of things. But let's be positive. It was the first concert I've attended at the Shaw Conference Centre since last year and the sound was uncharacteristically great, Nelly's voice clear as a bell.
And she had some real nice moments, too.
On the almost gospel-like Powerless - with the stage lights twinkling, band rocking and Furtado bringing it home - the crowd had its arms up, swaying to the anthem. It was one of those wonderful connected concertmoments.
The crowd was a little bit behind the count on Crazy, not quite catching on as quickly as you'd hope to lend Furtado a hand on the chorus. Again, what is up with this market?
And she delivered a little bit of bump from the new album with Do It before I had to exit stage left. Shame too.
The set list I procured indicated that hits like Promiscuous and Maneater were being reserved for show's end. The one tune that caught my eye, though, was Glow (with Heart of Glass). Nelly does Blondie? Now that's one mash-up I wanted to hear. Bootlegs anyone?