The live Maureen has more power and personality than the too melodic, blandish Maureen I recall from recordings. She was accompanied at the Rrazz Room by only piano and bass, and that’s all she needed when she sang arrangements of the Beatles, Pete Seeger, and Simon and Garfunkel.
She touched the holy folk-rock hymns of my youth, and sang them mostly slower with more annunciation and clarity than the original. She played with folk-rock fire, and gave us an enhanced, very emotionally satisfying show.
Geoff spent the cab ride home talking about the great range of McGovern’s voice. He is right, of course. Her voice is beautiful. For me, though, more than her control of the notes, it was arrangements and feelings that made the songs.
This post is short so I can get this up for people in San Francisco to make their plans for tonight!
Ozdachs Rating 
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