By Dave Miller

Cathy Richardson has played many great shows, but none like the one she put on Friday at FitzGerald's in Berwyn.

"Tonight is a special, never been done before and never to be repeated again show -- a once in a lifetime chance to spin the wheel," Richardson promised like a carnival barker at the start of her "Wheel of Fortune" show. "We have no idea what's going to happen tonight."

Borrowing the concept Elvis Costello first introduced in the 1980s, Richardson had fans spin a big roulette wheel to see which songs would be played. It's a fun concept, though one that could be better in theory than reality depending on chance and a performer's ability to keep a random show together. Most performers don't have the confidence to surrender themselves to such unpredictability.

Richardson is not like most performers. The road warrior has given countless performances under different conditions from fronting her own Cathy Richardson Band to starring in the musical Love, Janis to fronting Big Brother and the Holding Company to serving as Jefferson Starship's singer to leading the Macrodots to playing solo. In short, she knows her way around a stage. She's always been one to introduce spontaneity into her shows, an essential element that transforms a performer from simplying playing rock and roll to being it. The latter is when the music comes alive and thrills, and Richardson knows it. She regularly introduces the potential for such moments and takes advantage of most of them to take her performance higher.

It didn't take long for Richardson to achieve such transcendence. The second spin landed on "Fly" and the local hero took the song and and her band into "Age of Aquarius." A sharp and focused jam led by Richardson and Macrodots guitarist Jude Gold followed and ventured into unknown territory with soaring results. "Wow," Richardson marveled when the song ended. "That was exciting."

A fortuitous next spin brought a nice transition with "Tiny Particles." Then fan Dave Cygan landed on "Stump the Band." His request was anything by local cult artist Jan Terri, a favorite of Marilyn Manson. Richardson adeptly tackled her "Baby Blues." That wasn't the only rare song of the night. A spin landing on "Led Zeppelin" produced a mesmerizing "Since I've Been Loving You." How many other singers have the guts, and ability, to take on a song sung by Robert Plant?

The wheel also brought Richardson classics such as "Bad Example," "Saturday" and "Drink, Drink, Drink." "We're dusting off the oldies, ladies and gentlemen," she said. "Berwyn" had to be played, and was, complete with some funny, impromptu lyrics. A "free form" spin triggered a ridiculous, made-up story about seven turtles, which reduced Richardson to tears by its absurdity, but she made up for it with a long, dramatic and touching Springsteen-esque intro for "Cadillac Woman" about being embarrassed by her mechanic dad picking her up from school in his work clothes and pickup truck. As the show sailed past the two-hour mark, many in the crowd were rooting for the Macrodots' "Rock and Roll Part II" -- and it eventually came in its Zeppelin-like glory.

Richardson took the opportunity to raise money and awareness for Coat Angels, a local charity that provides coats for kids. Richardson's band for the night, Gold, fellow Macrodot Steven Gillis on drums and Fran Kondorf, Richardson's old bassist, proved up to the wheel challenge. They added to the cohesiveness of the concert by playing cover interludes from such bands as AC/DC, Zeppelin, The Beatles and Pink Floyd while the wheel was spun by fans, most whom Richardson knew by name. Richardson's friend, Ellen Miller, blew her harp on a handful of tunes. Richardson played fierce guitar throughout the night before channeling Joplin on "Me & Bobby McGee" to end the long, main set. The crowd demanded an encore and Richardson sent everyone home with a satisfying "Over Your Shoulder." "Thanks y'all," she said. "Rock and roll forever!"

It was not only a fun night, but a glimpse into how great a Richardson career-retrospective concert would be.

 

Cathy Richardson

November 25, 2011 @ FitzGerald's

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