FEBRUARY 23, 1996 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 21

EVENINGS OUT

Lesbian energy was palpable in k.d. lang's Ohio shows

k.d. lang at the Columbus show.

LEEANN MCGUIRE

by A. West

Three Ohio cities were fortunate enough to be on the schedule as singer k.d. lang traversed the state with her All You Can Eat tour. Anyone lucky enough to attend the show in either Cincinnati, Columbus or Cleveland can now say

without hesitation that

they have seen a shootOne adoring female in the

ing star. Lang mesmer-

ized packed auditoriums with her amazing voice, her laid-back stage pres-

ence and her vibrant personality.

You could hear a pin drop during the stirring rendition of "Barefoot" from the movie Salmonberries, in which lang made her acting debut. The harmonies created between lang and her two female backup singers during that song were breathtaking. Midway through her set, lang brought the audience to its feet for the first of three standing ovations with her performance of Roy Orbison's classic song "Crying." As she basked in the afterglow of the applause, she looked upwards and acknowledged the man who gave her that song, mouthing the words, "Thanks,

audience shouted, "I love you, k.d.!” which was followed by another fan

shouting, "I love you

Although lang, who more!" Then, “I love you likes to be thought of as

a "singer who just hapmost!" rained down from pens to be a lesbian❞ the balcony.

rather than a “lesbian

singer," did not play only

to her droves of female admirers, her out lesbian energy was definitely palpable. She appeared comfortable bantering with fans, and by the end of the night at her February 6 Columbus show, a verbal battle ignited over who loved her more. One adoring female in the audience shouted, "I love you, k.d.!” which was followed by another fan shouting, "I love you more!” Then, “I love you most!" rained down from the balcony.

K.d., grinning and nodding her head in approval replied, "Excellent." She had accomplished what she had set out to do, dazzle the capacity crowd.

The show kicked off with the songs "Sexuality" and "You're Okay" from her current release All You Can Eat. The set was wellrounded, spanning her entire career thus far. Included in the set were the k.d. classics "Constant Craving," "Pulling Back the Reins," and "Lock, Stock and Teardrop."

Roy." The song is fast becoming as much a signature piece for lang as it was for Orbison throughout his career.

Throughout the evening, lang traded quips with her band members and the audience, sported a pink lame jacket, and camped up Elvis and Lawrence Welk. She really looked like she was having a great time. During one of the encores, she acknowledged her lesbian fans once more by doing a tongue-in-cheek rendition of Tom Jones' "What's New, Pussycat?" The appreciative crowd lapped it up.

She said goodnight by singing yet another song from All You Can Eat, the soothing "Infinite, Unforseen." As she blew kisses to the crowd and gathered up the many bouquets of flowers, stuffed animals and notes that had been placed on the stage, she said genuinely, "I'll be back soon.” We can hardly wait.

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