3/12/2008: Sia - Houston, TX

The picture above is how Sia and her band entered the stage. She's the one with the blue hands. They kept it up for the length of the first song, "Buttons." I really had no idea what I was getting into last night. While I had a suspicion that Sia was going to be great live, I had no idea how great she was going to be...or entertaining.

But the evening didn't start with Sia. It started with Har Mar Superstar. The first time I saw this guy perform was over 6 years ago. It was him, a drum machine, and a really hilarious act that involved him repeatedly stating how "f***ing awesome" he was, and gradually stripping down to nothing but his underwear. Sound sexy? Ha! You have no idea!
Yeah, that's what this guy looks like. But believe it or not, he's actually a very talented musician. His vocals are right up there with the likes of Justin Timberlake, and his music are straight up funk disco jams that have a lot more in common with The Jackson 5 than with any modern act. He's added a bassist and a drummer over the course of the last six years, and I have to say that the change was for the better. The guy's an absolute blast to watch, and a consummate performer. At one point, he hopped off the stage, walked through the crowd, and made his way to the bar on the opposite side of the room to order some drinks for he and his band mates. Oh yeah...and he did this all during a song, still singing. It was really a great performance, even if I didn't hop into his proposed line of people who wanted to "suck his ****."


After a 30 minute break, Sia and her bandmates (which included a guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist, and a "real"string bassist) hit the stage in the above noted getup. Sia has this habit of talking a lot in between songs which is kind of cool, but also sort of unnecessary. It gives you an opportunity to get to know her, but then again, that's not really why you came.

Sia spent most of the evening playing songs from her most recent album, Some People Have Real Problems, but did manage to squeeze in a few from Color the Small One, one from an upcoming album, and even a Zero 7 song. Highlights included "Lentil," which is actually about a dog, "Academia," "Breathe Me," "Soon We'll Be Found," and "Death By Chocolate." When she first started "Death By Chocolate" she flubbed the lines a bit and had to restart, noting that "I do actually write these songs, I just always forget them." By the end, though, when she's singing "It's but a falling leaf..." at the top of her lungs, I got goosebumps. For realsies.

Overall, it was a really great show and a wonderful evening. Though there were a few distractions, like a group of 60-year-olds who were waaaaaaaay too into it directly in front of me, I really enjoyed myself and will definitely consider seeing either of these artists the next time they stroll through town. That is all.