Sarah McLachlan: Goddess
One of Many at the Lillith Fair

By Hilary Mainka '98
Few people can say that they've had a direct encounter with the Divine. But the 25,000 screaming fans at the E-Center in Camden on July 27, can truthfully say that they've been in the presence of a goddess; the incomparable Sarah McLachlan and the rest of the bill at the 1997 Lillith Fair. This was the concert event of the year; the first ever concert featuring a line-up of all female artists. This particular show, one stop on a myriad of Lillith shows across the country, featured Fiona Apple, Joan Osborne, The Cardigans, Tracy Chapman and Sarah herself (who performs at all Lillith shows). Other concerts have included the ever-popular acts of the Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow and Shawn Colvin.

A huge Sarah McLachlan fan, I primarily went to Lillith to see my idol perform but left gaining a new appreciation of women's rock. The crowd was mostly female, spanning a wide range of listening interests. My second row seat provided an excellent vantage point to soak up the true power of Lillith. The show began when Fiona Apple delivered such hits as "Criminal" and "Shadowboxer" with a poise and familiarity one would not expect of a 19 year-old. Next, Joan Osborne belted out her trademark tunes and introduced a few new ones. The following act, The Cardigans, provided for a nice intermission to visit the restrooms, stand in the long food lines, and replenish the always-depleting daiquiri supply. The true show-stealer, Tracy Chapman, took the stage and injected a new energy into the crowd delivering the immaculate "Fast Car" and "Promise" with the confidence of a veteran performer and folk-pop diva.

The final act and easily the most surreal was Sarah. Her captivating stage presence, ultimately enveloped the audience into her spell. Ballads such as "Good Enough" and "Angel" brought the crowd to its knees while the invigoratingly sweet "Ice Cream" found the audience singing along (I was the loudest). Sarah's stage presence seems to get stronger every time I see her perform. Fresh off the #2 debut of her much anticipated fourth album Surfacing (buy it), Sarah left the spellbound more than satisfied.

The entire Lillith Fair seemed to be surrounded by the aura of what a summer concert should be. The artists' and the audience's common bond of respect of music was what made this evening so special. Truly stray from the hard-core rock tours such as Lollapalooza and Warped Tour, Lillith provided its fans, for just one evening, a place of solace.