Melissa Etheridge at The Paramount

Melissa Etheridge
The Paramount
Huntington, NY
June 18, 2015

Melissa Etheridge is an open book. The whole world knows about her battle with breast cancer and her indomitable spirit. She even wrote a song about it as "I Run for Life" which was released in 2005 on Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled (Island Records) was inspired by that battle. Her personal and family life is known the world over. She released an album called Yes I Am (Island Records, 1993) which not only punctuated the answer to the question, but put a stamp on it.

Etheridge was born in Leavenworth, KS and at eight years of age began playing guitar. She attended college at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She eventually began playing the Boston club circuit and after three semesters dropped out of college and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. During her time in Los Angeles, she performed in a number of small venues and lesbian bars. Bill Leopold became her manager and in 1986 she was signed by the head of Island Records, Chris Blackwell, to a publishing deal to write songs for movies.

Her first attempt at releasing a CD was rejected by Island because it was thought to be too polished. Eventually, she stripped her sound down a bit and in 1988 released her eponymous debut album Melissa Etheridge (Island Records). Its single "Bring Me Some Water," received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. In 1989 Brave and Crazy (Island Records) followed and peaked at number 22 on the Billboard 200 (the same position as Melissa Etheridge) and also garnered a Grammy nomination.

In 1993, Etheridge won her first Grammy award for her single "Ain't It Heavy" from her third Island Records album, Never Enough (which was released in 1992). Later in 1993, she released Yes I Am (Island Records). The album was a blockbuster and delivered three Billboard Top 40 singles, including "I'm the Only One" and the Grammy-winning "Come to My Window." Yes I Am reached number 15 on the Billboard 200 and has received a certification of 6x Platinum from the RIAA.

The rest, as they say would be history, except that in 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent treatment. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she returned to the stage featuring a bald head caused by her chemotherapy and performed Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart."

Now, eleven years after that diagnosis, Etheridge is cancer-free and touring solo. Her This Is Me tour is bare-bones, for the most-part just her and a guitar (though she occasionally uses a small drum and a tape loop machine to lay down a simple backbeat). The performance at Huntington's Paramount on this Thursday evening was exquisite. Etheridge treated the predominantly female crowd, in the packed-to-the-gills midsized venue, to exactly what was hoped for—an evening of her greatest and most loved songs. She supplied the tasty guitar licks and throaty vocals that have been her calling card for the past twenty-five plus years.

Appearing on stage around 8:15pm, alone wearing a light grey jacket over a sparkly silvery sweater with a silver bling necklace and armed with only a black acoustic 12-string guitar, Etheridge got right down to it, playing "All American Girl" to the delight of the adoring crowd. She played stripped down versions of songs from all facets of her career. Of course, she included the expected fan favorites: "Chrome Plated Heart" (played on a vintage green electric Danelectro guitar), "I Want to Come Over," "Bring Me Some Water" and "I'm the Only One."

Feeling very much at home with the Huntington crowd, Etheridge stopped occasionally to banter with her audience. Many of her quips were self-deprecating. Many were downright hysterical. All were very real. At one point she announced, "This tour is called This Is Me, 'cause all you get is me." While she was setting up the tambourine and drum loops to accompany herself on "Monster" she asked the obligatory, "How you feeling? Feel good? Feel crazy?," questions to audience. The loud response of cheers and whistles signaled that the answer was a definite, "Yes!"

Another highlight of the evening included the slow plaintive version of "Who Are You Waiting For" sung as she accompanied herself on the piano. Her guitar-playing skills sometimes get lost and overshadowed by her lyrical content. On this night both were evident as she delivered strong versions of "If I Wanted To" and "Like A Preacher" while playing a double-neck guitar.

Etheridge had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand and singing along as the main set ended with a strong rocking version of "Bring Me Some Water." After only a few short moments, she was ready for the encore. The evening's festivities ended with a single encore performance of "Like the Way I Do."

It takes a special talent to appear on a stage. It takes a superior talent to command a stage. It takes an immense talent to appear and command a stage all by one's lonesome. Melissa Etheridge did just that on this evening in Huntington.

Photo Credit: Christine Connallon
[Additional article contributions by Christine Connallon].