Alela Diane

I'm a huge fan of Alela Diane. There were few days over the last few years in which I didn't listen to her music. Maybe this high expectation made me disappointed so much during this concert.
I bought my ticket to Alela Diane's concert last July. Back then we didn't know about the new album. The concert was advertised Vikesh Kapur as supporting and Alela Diane as main act. It was two months later that we found the additional name 'Ryan Francesconi'. Two days before the gig I heard the collaborative album of Alela Diane and Francesconi and it was phenomenally bad. I hoped for the concert to be at least 50% Diane's music. But unfortunately it was all the boring music written by this bad artist Ryan Francesconi.
There four tracks from other albums which covered 12 minutes of the whole concert, one of which was horrendouslay changed by Francesconi.
Almost everybody in the hall were frustrated. It was not just about the boring music. It was because of Francesconi's tendency to dominate the stage. Talking over Alela Diane when she was speaking all the time is one example of this tendency. The problem was that no one came to Bush Hall last night to see this dude. We were there for Alela Diane. We bought tickets to see and hear Alela Diane's music not this utterly insulting thing.

I had never been disappointed at a live concert as much as I was last night. The worst thing about it is that we were listening to heavenly voice of Diane and seeing her being used by this Mr. Nobody.

A self taught guitarist with a whole load of talent, that’s Alela Diane for you! Her distinct tone and incredible talent on the guitar has taken Diane far in her career, allowing her to release a multitude of music under various labels, and collaborate with some extremely talented musicians.
Her debut album Forest Paradise gave her the opportunity to become heard by many producers and lables, leading to her signing with her first in a string of contracts. Seeing her live, she has come a remarkable distance since this self released album. She’s maintained her roots and doesn’t make her concerts showy or over the top, but the quality of her performance was world class.
She began with tracks from Forest Paradise, and worked her way through to About Farewell. The venue was intimate, and everyone there seemed to be huge fans of hers, singing along to the dulcet tones of her Indie style folk music. She had a great stage presence, and her interaction with the audience was personal, and touching to see that she was so appreciative. I would definitely see her again, a very talented lady.

American singer/songwriter Alela Diane has over ten years of experience on the live circuit and the fact she never received a 'big break' of sorts is evident in her performance style. You can almost envisage every tiny room or disinterested festival crowd as Alela sings in her unique vocal that holds so much passion and raw emotion. Working her way up the hard way means she is so gratified to be able to sit onstage and play to a large room of fans all prepared to listen to her heartfelt setlist.

She takes moments to simply absorb the whole situation as the whole audience applauds intently. There are real moments created within her indie folk landscapes for 'Heartless Highway' and 'Long Way Down' as Alela holds the whole room in a perfect balance and allows them a little look within her own world through the narrative. Understanding the quiet power of silence perhaps after supporting the Decemberists, the finale is no large crescendo instead a moment of reflection in the form of 'Suzanne' which is the unexpected highlight of the show.