From the very first notes of her opening song “Marlene on the Wall” she captivated the audience at Anita's Theatre, as Suzanne Vega kicked off her "Flying with Angels" performance.
Without the need for special effects or elaborate staging, her rich, clear voice combined flawlessly with Gerry Leonard’s hypnotic guitar performance. With Leonard looping and layering his instrument to create a sound that replicated a multitude of instruments and sounds, even conjuring the sound of cathedral bells for “Tom’s Diner”.
Her humour and banter between songs was engaging, as she shared personal stories, interacted with the audience and explained how the songs came about. The songs I didn’t know were just as engaging as those I did. Every lyric felt significant, contributing to a larger narrative.
The most interesting story to me was about “Chambermaid”, a song written in response to Bob Dylan’s “I Want You”. In “I Want You”, Dylan references a relationship with his chambermaid. Whilst Vega’s song mirrors the musical structure of the original, she retells the story from the chambermaid’s perspective, imagining her aspirations, hobbies and how she understood her relationship with Dylan.
Continuing the pattern of reinvention, Vega builds a tribute to one of her musical heroes, Elvis Costello, in "When Heroes Go Down", by combining the melody of Costello's "Pump It Up" with lyrics drawn from his "Lipstick Vogue”. Vega also performed a cover of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side," which drew the whole room together in a shared moment of appreciation.
Of course, favourites "Tom's Diner," "Luca," and "99.9°F" were highlights too. Vega’s theatrical delivery and timeless voice, combined with Leonard reshaping the original rhythms through innovative soundscapes transformed the songs into an experience.
Overall, Vega’s performance reinvented songs through storytelling, and musical depth. Alongside Leonard, she created an intimate atmosphere that captivated the audience completely.
Audrey, 17th Sept 2026, Thirroul