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Review: Melissa Etheridge phenomenal at The Paramount in New York (Includes first-hand account)

Etheridge began her set with a soaring rendition of “All American Girl,” while accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. “Awesome. This is the first time I’ve been at this place. This is great,” Etheridge exclaimed, complimenting The Paramount.

She switched over to electric guitar as she nailed “Chrome Plated Heart,” where green lights dimmed on the stage, and the fans were clapping along. It was followed by the tender tune, “A Little Bit of Me,” which was the quintessential lullaby.

“Fun,” she said, and decided to take her fans on a trip down memory lane to 1988, with “Don’t You Need,” a song from her debut studio album, where she hit the high notes effortlessly. “Thank you very much for getting my first album,” she told the crowd.

The acclaimed songstress noted that her set-list changes every night, and rightfully so. “Is your summer good? Are you in love?” she asked her fans, prior to belting out her smash single “I Want To Cover Over,” as vibrant red lights lit up the stage.

Etheridge put her guitar aside and demonstrated her prowess on piano while performing “Who Are You Waiting For,” which was subtle, poignant and controlled. She brought her fans back to 1994 with “If I Wanted To,” as the stage was graced in green and yellow lights.

“Ah, this is too much fun,” she said, prior to singing the new tune “Like a Preacher,” which featured a neat a cappella ending.

It was followed by her Grammy-winning signature song “Come To My Window,” which was a vocal masterpiece. She showcased her tremendous pipes, exquisite guitar playing, and it garnered her a lengthy standing ovation from her New York audience.

Etheridge continued with “Meet Me In The Black” and she covered Joan Armatrading’s “The Weakness in Me” on piano, which was yet another heartfelt and crystalline performance.

She displayed her dynamic vocal range on the fan-favorite “I’m The Only One” and closed her memorable set with “Monster,” a track from her newest album This Is M. E., and “Bring Me Some Water.”

The Verdict

Overall, Melissa Etheridge was sublime at The Paramount on Long Island. Her vocals were powerful, raspy and captivating. Most impressive about this concert was that she performed solo, and she played all the instruments, which included a wide spectrum of guitars, drums and piano. Etheridge proved to be a rock goddess whose show is worth seeing live whenever she is in the area. She earned 5 out of 5 stars for a stellar concert. This is a substantial indication that she is overdue for an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For anybody who has any doubts, all they need to see is a highlight reel of her spell-binding performance at The Paramount.

Markos Papadatos
Written By

Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News. Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 22,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.

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