Natalie Merchant Tickets

Hands down- this was the worst concert performance I have ever been to in my life. How boring! Poetry, poetry, and yes even more poetry by Natalie Merchant all night long. Natalie's new "Leave Your Sleep" album is a real sleeper. Her performance literally made me fall asleep. Instead of listening and watching the concert, I watched the planes fly by in the night sky while sipping on my wine. At the opening of each new song, Natalie gave her audience an extremely boring slide presentation of 20th and 19th century bearded poets. I felt like I was attending a poets convention. By the way, did I fail to mention that I can't stand poetry. I was waiting all night long for Natalie to sing some of her earlier music hits such as Kind and Generous and Carnival or even from her earlier works from 10,000 Maniacs. But it did not happen. Chateaue St. Michelle was a beautiful venue for a concert. But Natalie's performance was a complete disaster. Natalie is defintely wrapped up in her own little strange world of bizarre poems and children's tales from random sources. Yes, Natalie even spoke about "monsters" on her stage. I should have brought my toddler child to the show. Natalie was singing and dancing on the stage but hardly anybody else was joining her in the audience. What a disconnect. She kept rambling on and on about different people that inspired her from the poetry world. Not exactly exciting stuff. I can tell that she spent her early childhood years in a library. She needs to spend more time with people like Gwen Stephani, Fergie, and, yes, even Madonna. Bring back some of the charisma from Natalie's earlier years. Today, Natalie has the charisma of a Victorian librarian. The "inspired" poetry she used from her material originates from the famous (Ogden Nash, e.e. cummings, Robert Louis Stevenson) to the even more obscure (William Brighty Rands. These unknown poets are represented here by a handful of very boring lullabies that is more suited for young children than adults. Save your money and avoid attending Natlie Merchant's 2010 summer concert series. It is one very strange show.

Very good concert. She is very witty and the music was great.

It was refreshing to have no opening act - but sometimes it seemed like the venue of the Winery, and people getting up and down in front of the stage may of thrown off Natalies flow in the beginning. ..but as the crowd settled Natalie provided a great concert, and showed she has an amazing voice. Her interpretation of classic children stories was very entertaining. Her interaction with her great backup band was also amazing.

I was so looking forward to seeing Natalie Merchant and hearing some of my old favorites and was very disappointed in her performance. She only played a couple of her known songs - she talked about poets way too much - and she kept making digs on the crowd for getting up and moving around. Maybe if she played her good songs it would have kept our interest better!

The concert started out good with a couple of her old favorites but then the torture began.. She launched into the poetry songs from her new CD. Complete with a slideshow picturing the original poet. I felt like I was in a college lecture hall. Most of the songs are downright boring. One after another after another. I was prepared for a few but really wanted to hear her hits and the songs that drew me to her many years ago. Even knowing the audience was tiring of her repetoire she continued, promising "you'll hear what you want.." Then she announces this is the LAST SONG and played ONE song the audience wanted to hear. People couldn't leave fast enough - including me - I don't know what she might have played for an encore or if anyone stayed long enough to hear it. I am no longer a FAN!

I have been a fan of Natalie Merchant for a number of years. I have not followed her last two albums however. Her concert focused almost exclusively on a grouping of poems that she sings. She practically went the entire 2hrs with only a couple of her greatest hits of the past. It was not until the encore of the show that she revisited all the greats I remember. It seemed odd not to mix up the show with a little of both new and old - I have never been to a concert where it was so one sided.

As mentioned in the title, Chateau Ste. Michelle is always a wonderful venue. Any show is made better by being there. Unfortunately, not even the charm of the Chateau could save this horrible performance, With no opening act, Natalie rushed the stage and launched into two songs without a word. Her first words were that she wasn't in the mood for talking. The rest of the night was mostly spent chiding audience goers that dared to get up from the (expensive) seats to go to the bathroom. The set of a dozen or so songs felt rushed and dispassionate. It seemed only as an afterthought that she mentioned her band on the last song. We left early, as many other people did, before the final song even finished. Feeling sorry we intruded on Ms. Merchant's night... As much as we felt she was an unwanted intrusion in ours...

My friends and I (and others in the crowd) were disappointed. The majority of the concert was from her new album and was poetry/lullabies. Not what you want to hear on a Friday night in the summer. Old stuff didn't come out until the very end---why wait so long? Her presentation was also somewhat affected and pretentious, making fun of the latecomers--when she herself started the concert 15 minutes late. Not classy or funny.

I have long been a Natalie Merchant fan and love the Chateau Ste Michelle venue. So, I had been anticipating this concert for months. I was in my seat ready when the concert began - and initially laughed when Natalie jabbed at those who were coming in late. I'd taken the day off and had waited in line for a front place on the grounds for hours and was more than on time for the start of the show. But, to my way of thinking, she carried this too far by continuing to jab at everyone who came in late. Very quickly, those around me began to sympathize with the latecomers. All of us had navigated horrible traffic caused by the Seattle SeaFair, the closed bridge and summer roadwork - and, those who had to work had no doubt been doubly challenged by commuter traffic - and, were probably already feeling disappointment at missing the beginning of the show. So, I'm guessing they were probably not amused by Natalie's jabs. Plus, her disparaging comment about the Blue Angels, a well-loved Seattle tradition, fell cold on the audience. And, to judge people for drinking wine when the concert venue was at a winery caused chuckles from more than one person around me. I was thoroughly enjoying the music but, even as an ardent fan, Natalie's curmudgeonly attitude was adversely affecting me. So, the music at the start was wonderful but early on she had already alienated some in her audience. So, when she presented her new material which was highly creative but also very heady, many in her audience were unreceptive. While interesting to me (I majored in English with an emphasis in poetry), a lot of people around me started chatting with each other, clearly disinterested in what was happening on stage.. I believe Natalie knew that she was losing many in her audience but plowed right through all of it anyway, perhaps for the benefit of those like me who might try to listen to it over the din of people talking around me who had lost interest. In my view, Natalie seemed to be performing for herself at this point and not her audience and the audience knew it. Sometimes less is more. Around me, a new party had begun independent of Natalie - talk, food, wine, conversation flowed. I've never been at a concert where the audience showed so little respect for the artist. But, those around me, and honestly myself too, were there to be entertained, not educated. Tired after a long week of heat, work and little sleep (most don't have air-conditioning in our homes), we didn't have the energy to be forced to think. This part of the concert seemed more suited to an afternoon concert at the Guggenheim than Chateau Ste Michelle. I found myself wishing I could have seen it another venue. To my way of thinking, it didn't belong in this one, nor with this audience. But, at the end, Natalie pulled it out for her audience and gave us what we wanted. I danced, cried and hooted along with the others around me. I know artists crave creating and performing new material - it's what keeps it interesting for them. And, mixing it up is good for audiences, we need to grow - but, Natalie could do well to present a little less of her personal vanguard in outdoor concert settings. And, while old material is not as interesting to the artist, audiences love it because it links us in a personal way to our memories. So, along with many around me, I was glad that Natalie indulged our memories - we were moved and went home in high spirits.

Venue was fab...Natalie was great except she played a lot of music from her current album which was inspired by children's poets. Songs about bananas and broccoli?? Really Natalie? I was hoping to hear more of her old school songs- which she did end up playing but only after she announced it would be her last song and people already started to leave. Kind of bummed about this one.

have always loved Natalie's music so I am biased. was not that familiar with the new album but enjoyed the commentary she provided about each of the songs and enjoyed the new stuff more than I thought I would. really enjoyed the encore, of course a lot of her classics. we were in the first section and ended up just feet away during the encore which added a much more personable experience. the venue was a bit distracting with the flood of people in between songs. proved distracting for the performers as well as the audience, me anyway. Natalie seemed to get over it and started joking with the fans that were either coming in late or having to leave for some personnal relief. luckily wine does not have to make an exit as quickly as beer seems to. Ste Michelle should figure out a different way of getting people to and from their seats after a show begins over all I would go again and ask friend sif they would like to go too...

The Natalie Merchant concert last night was the worst concert any of the 4 people in our group had seen, which between us was an easy 100 concerts. In the first 2 hours she did not play one of her popular songs, but instead indulged herself by playing songs she wrote based on obscure, old poets. She appeared to be trying to impress the audience with her knowledge and academia. It didn't work. She had a slide show which accompanied her dead poet songs that didn't even fit the screen. Honestly, our 5th grader could have done a better job than she or her tech person did. Finally, the first few times she made fun of the folks walking to their seats, it was kind of funny and showed some wit. However, this attempt at humor took place throughout the show and it became no longer funny after about the second time. Perhaps if she had sang any of the songs people really wanted to hear throughout the show, folks wouldn't have been up walking around and leaving early. It was a complete waste of money and time!!!

I love Natalie Merchant! I am glad she did the childrens poetry stuff. Yes, I love her older stuff but there is a new generation coming up now. What a great way to honor those poets. She is perfect!

One of the best concerts that we have ever attended. What a talent!

Natalie has been my favorite female artist for the past 10 years and I was so so looking forward to this concert and from the first song she was so rude to her fans. If they were walking around she would tell them she will wait for them to sit. If people were coming in late she would tell them how many songs they missed. She made fun that the event was serving alcohol and the food that was being served and even made fun of our state. Hello, who is hosting your event? She talked so much before everyone of her songs and had a slide show that she made everyone read aloud. It felt more like a lecture then a concert. LEFT EARLY SO DISAPPOINTED!!!!

Haven't seen Natalie for 8 years. She has been busy writing songs that are derived from famous poems. Always an artist! Had to wait till the end until we heard some old favorites that I grew up with in the 80s and early 90s. Great Concert.

She went on about 25 minutes late and then proceded to call people out in the crowd for either arriving late or moving about to buy food or wine, despite acknowledging that traffic was bad. Girlfriend, you were playing at a winery...loosen up. The first hour was like listening to a dirge mixed with a literature lecture complete with slides. Apparently the encore was great, but our group had decided to bail by that point.

Loved the music, the lyrics, the stories behind and the serious but fun nature of Natalie. Also loved that she called the guests of her show on their tardiness - would they come to a play late and be let in - NO!! Come on people - a little respect for the artist you come to see as well as those of us who plan an earlier get away from work because this is an EVENT - not a quick drink after work! Again, Natalie was spectacular and we wish her all our best!

She's always been a unique talent. When they made her, the mold was definitely broken. Last night at the St. Michelle Winery, she was charming, self-effacing and did an excellent job of introducing us all to her latest album which features famous and obscure children's poems set to a wide variety of musical styles. Truthfully, that doesn't sound like something the average person would find enthralling, but in her hands, it works. My friend leaned over and said, "She's like the dorky librarian who sings." Here she was presenting long forgotteen poems from the 1800s that we assume from her comments she dug up during some afternoon treasure hunt at the Brooklyn Library and then took home to whip up into something brand new by wrapping her music around them. All that was a treat, but the concert would have been lacking without her long encore which included everyone's old favorites from "back in the day."

We went to the concert last night hoping to hear Natalie's tried and true songs. She didn't do any of them until the encore, at which point we were headed to the car in frustration!