Sam Phillips at The Ark - 9/9/08

Sam Phillips performed at the Ark in Ann Arbor on Tuesday. After a 35-minute intermission she opened the show with “I Need Love” from her CD Martini’s and Bikinis, but she quickly turned the focus to her new CD, Don’t Do Anything.

"I Need Love" had one of my favorite lyrics of the night:

i need love
not some sentimental prison
i need god not the political church
i need fire to melt the frozen sea inside me
i need love

For the past 11 years Sam has worked with her former husband T Bone Burnett as the producer, but on Don’t Do Anything she stepped into the producer’s role, and did an excellent job carefully crafting these sometimes painfully beautiful songs.

One of the things that stood out was that Sam is such a charming performer. She took time to interact with the audience. She wasn’t afraid to admit when a performance didn’t meet her expectations. One of the audience members complained about the loudness of the drums. While many performers would have dismissed the complaint Sam waited so the gentleman could be seated in a better spot. Her graciousness and concern for everyone was evident.

Speaking of drummers, Jay Bellerose was amazing to watch. He had so many percussion instruments to work with, including noisemakers that were attached to his ankles. He was able to play with such finesse and complimented the songs beautifully. But he wasn’t afraid play with more force when necessary. Jay was a true joy to watch, especially on the song "My Career in Chemistry."

But the main focus was Sam’s compelling songs. In the past her songs were built on layer upon layer of interesting music, but since Fan Dance she’s been exploring simpler yet more intriguing song styles. She strips away the unnecessary to get to the heart of the song.

Some of my favorite songs included "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us," "I Need Love," "One Day Late," and "My Career in Chemistry."

At the beginning of the show Sam mentioned what a beautiful day it was in Ann Arbor. She said she was tempted to take the performance outside, leading a parade through the streets. The night was even more beautiful after Sam’s compelling performance.

Jill Jack and Billy Brandt opened the show. Jill is so at home on the stage. Though Sam and Jill are such different performers, Jill was able to win new fans with her very heartfelt performance.