Cheers and screams pierced through the crowd at Boston’s Wang Theatre, complementing the on-stage pop puncturing from Fiona Apple and crew. Endless shouts that most often wound up as stuttered versions of “WE LOVE YOU!” were received by the artist Apple with the kindness she knows best: reciprocation through musical genius. Tearing through “Fast As You Can” as an opener, Apple danced around stage with a scarf, hitting each and every note spot-on, both vocally and in terms of immediately introducing her world through performance. She ended the track attacking the piano with the same ferocity her vocal cords endure in the most intense moments of her catalog.

The only downside of the show was that she played less than half of her latest “The Idler Wheel…”, in favor of older “Tidal” and “When the Pawn…” tracks. “Criminal” and “Sleep to Dream” were arranged identical to their album versions, but most of the other older tracks found their way into the updated Apple canon, maturing to the state of her latest works. Of the new tracks played, all four shined through. Singles “Every Single Night” and “Anything We Want” are both radio-ready in melody, yet probably will never reach FM due to the more complex instrumentation choices made by Apple and co-producer Charley Drayton. Drayton also works as her drummer, which would explain the highly percussive nature of this latest LP. The crowd remained silently in awe as the songs played out, and then shook the room at each song’s finish. “Werewolf” and “Daredevil” display Apple’s sense of dynamics, both musically and in lyrical content. Her lyrics (and occasional badass public moment) give the impression she is an extreme personality, and she constructs her music in a way that breathes life into this at all angles.

Hopefully once she comes back around in the fall, she’ll have all of the new material ready for a live environment. What wouldn’t you give to hear “Hot Knife” arranged for concert? “The Idler Wheel…” is another example of an artist taking the time to grow, and not just rushing out any idea that may come to mind. Apple’s discography stands at four albums in sixteen years, but ever so often our patience is rewarded with a monumental release that will surely be near the top of most year-end lists.

ES

Setlist for 06/30/12:

1. Fast As You Can
2. On the Bound
3. Shadowboxer
4. Paper Bag
5. Anything We Want
6. Get Gone
7. Sleep to Dream
8. Extraordinary Machine
9. Werewolf
10. Tymps
11. Daredevil
12. I Know
13. Every Single Night
14. Not About Love
15. Carrion
16. Criminal
17. It’s Only Make Believe (Conway Twitty)