Review by Val Tapia
Venue: Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) (https://mim.org/ )
Date: Thursday February 6th, 2025
Tour: Flying With Angels tour
It’s pretty much indisputable that Suzanne Vega is largely responsible for re-igniting the singer-songwriter movement for a new generation of music listeners (read: the oldest Gen-Xers) in the 1980s.
In short order, Vega’s music undoubtedly paved the way for future women artists like Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Edie Brickell, and Melissa Etheridge (to name a few) who were signed to major record deals as time progressed.
Fast forward to the 90s and eventually her influence could be heard in the music of Sheryl Crow, Joan Osborne, Alanis Morrisette and Jewel. Dare I say it, there probably wouldn’t have been a Lilith Fair either, to my thinking anyway. But that’s another topic altogether.
By the way good readers, yes, Vega was indeed part of the inaugural edition of that influential tour during the summer of 1997. And rightly so, as many would contend to this day.
Now 41 years into her recording career, Vega kicked off the 2026 leg of her Flying With Angels tour at the Musical Instrument Museum (or the MIM for short) for three shows on Thursday February. 5th, Friday February. 6th and Saturday February 7th, respectively.
I attended the Friday show where Vega, along with lead guitarist Gerry Leonard, opened the paltry 90-minute, 17-song set with “Marlene On The Wall” (from her 1985 self-titled debut album). The first six songs in fact were old songs that, as Vega jokingly said, “songs you know and songs we know too.”
Live staples like “Small Blue Thing” and “The Queen and The Soldier” were well-received, not surprisingly. Vega’s voice was in fine form, as well as her quirky storytelling.
Prior to “Gypsy” (from her breakthrough second album, 1987’s Solitude Standing), she reminisced about the summer of 1977 when she was a camp counselor and met her “first love” at 18 years old. It was all about “disco music and folk singing” that year for Vega. I noticed fans around me grinning from ear-to-ear when they heard that.
Everyone remained seated throughout the show, and the applause was limited to clapping— like most shows at the MIM. Having said that, there isn’t a better venue for a singer-songwriter to perform at in the Phoenix area. I have a feeling that most of her fans would agree on that assessment as well.
It’s also important to note that, to her credit, Vega wasn’t interested in merely rehashing the past Friday night. Last May, she issued her first studio album since 2016 called Flying With Angels. For the title track, cellist Stephanie Winters entered the stage for the first time of the night.
The new material sat alongside the classics just fine. For “Speakers’ Corner”, it was time for another story how the song came together. Simply put, it’s about the timely (and timeless) issue of free speech.
Vega said she wrote the song two years ago, and was concerned that it wouldn’t “hold up” by the time the album was complete. Needless to say, it most certainly holds up to anything she’s ever done. Personally, I’m glad it’s included in the set and on the album. It’s a winner.
I can’t overstate how much I respect veteran recording artists who continue to release new music. At a time when nostalgia tours have become the norm in the 21st century, Vega’s fans should be proud that she still has the drive to create… even after four decades! Kudos to her for that.
Of the five new songs from Flying With Angels, my favorite would have to be “Alley”. Frankly, active alternative rock stations would be wise to add it to their playlists. Yes, I’m lookin at you 93.3 ***ALT AZ***.
For this tour, I’m glad that Vega has a band this time. I had seen her in April 2012 at the MIM, which was a solo acoustic show. It was fine, but with the addition of Leonard and Winters, the songs simply sound better with them aboard.
Predictably, Vega saved her two most well-known songs to conclude the main set. “Luka” (one of the top 100 singles of the 80s, period) never fails to give me chills live. However, it would’ve been better if Leonard had programmed the drums into it… like he did for “Tom’s Diner”.
The latter, rightly or wrongly, was similar to Vega’s 1990 DNA remix, not the better a cappella version that opens the Solitude Standing album. But I digress.
I’ll concede I have one (or rather, two) gripes about the show. A Suzanne Vega concert isn’t complete without “Ironbound/ Fancy Poultry” and “Solitude Standing”. In my opinion, those songs are quintessential Vega tracks that deserve to be staples of her live set.
For the first of two songs as the encore, Vega told us about someone who is “all about New York”… the late Lou Reed. She then put her stamp all over “Walk On The Wild Side”.
Surprisingly, she concluded the night with another new song, “Galway”. All in all, it was a solid night of music with an American treasure of popular music.
Let me add this: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…HELLO??
The final verdict? 3.5 out of five stars. I’m glad she’s still here doing what she loves.
From what I could tell, so is her audience.
Suzanne Vega set list:
Marlene On The Wall
99.9 Fahrenheit
Caramel
Small Blue Thing
Gypsy
The Queen And The Soldier
Flying With Angels
Speakers’ Corner
Chambermaid
Left of Center
Alley
I Never Wear White
Some Journey
Luka
Tom’s Diner
Encore:
Walk On The Wild Side (Lou Reed cover)
Galway
NOTE: I was graciously given a copy of the setlist by a crew member. Tombstone/Rats was listed as the final song(s) of the night, but were not performed at this show.
