Maria McKee @ Joe's Pub

Last night Michael and I saw the insanely talented Maria McKee (and when I say insane, I mean insane!) perform live at Joe's Pub. The set was short but wonderful and very dramatic (it runs in the family, after all). I've adored Maria since the early days of Lone Justice and it always makes me happy to see her alive and well and writing new music. Although her last few solo albums have been a rather huge departure from the Maria I fell in love with back in high school, with what seems to be so many unusual thoughts and ideas constantly racing through her head at once I can't help but thinking that a big Broadway score is in her future. And can the girl still sing ...

My two favorite moments were when she did the old Lone Justice song "Wheels" off of "Shelter":



Wheels (Written by Maria McKee)
I wish you never even loved me
It makes it so hard to live without love now
I know you're often thinking of me
Sometimes I feel you so close by
That it takes all my might to keeep from trying to track you down

I can surely keep you out of sight
Forget about the way you look, your smile, the way you speak
But I've heard in the dead of night outside my window silence breaking
With the solid destination of your lonesome speed

I know the sound of your wheels
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know the sound of your wheels
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know the sound of your wheels

I had a handle on my sorrow
My composure was in order if not sufficiently intact
But every reminiscent echo brings a blow to chill my senses
And my heart quakes and tenses 'til those moments pass

I know the sound of your wheels
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know the sound of your wheels
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know the sound of your wheels

Ev'ry trace, ev'ry vision
Brings my emotions to collision
Past love's lost tokens
Ev'ry cherished thought once spoken
False hope of reconciliation

And the incomparable "Breathe" off her eponymous solo debut, which Maria mentioned was a song her late brother, Bryan MacLean, really loved. Just a wonderful night with a wonderful performer.


Breathe (Written by Maria McKee)
At first I was scared when I opened up my head
And the motor that was runnin’ was the mind of you
I was scared when I looked at my reflection and the shine I saw were the eyes of you
I was scared when you touched my lips
And the breath I took was a breath that shook me with a shock
Like a flame as eternal as a song and the song is you and I
I will let you breathe through me
I will let you be with me

Whenever I’m alone and you’re lost out there
I can feel you breathe ‘cause our lungs we share
Whenever I’m alone anytime anywhere
I can feel your heart beat ‘cause our blood we share

I was scared when you came into my room
The walls became the sea, your voice was the moon
Oh when you rocked me in your arms
Like a song, a wave on the tide of you and I
I will let you breathe through me
I will let you be with me

My heart beats your blood
Your breath fills my lungs
Your heart beats my blood
My breath fills your lungs

I was scared when you came into my room
The walls became the sea, your voice was the moon
Oh when you rocked me in your arms
Be with me...

I will let you breathe through me
I will let you...
I will let you...
I will let you...

Off the top of my head here are the songs I can remember her doing:

Sullen Soul
Shelter
High Dive
Life Is Sweet /After Life
My First Night Without You
Breathe
Blessed Salvation
Wheels
Absolute Barking Stars
Be My Joy
Late December