Suzanne Vega @ Queens Hall

It's been over twenty years since Suzanne Vega stood at the vanguard of a new generation of singer / songwriters. Taking that traditional format, she added the gloss of musical experimentation, streetwise poetry and urban sophistication, such that the likes of Aimee Mann, CocoRosie and Sufjan Stevens owe this New Yorker a debt of thankfulness. Tonight, the pity lies in the fact that her touring band cannot lay claim to the same levels of sophistication. Polished musicians they may be, but together they combine to suck any edge out of Vega's evocative lyrics and vocal inflections. The worst offence sees Vega stranded on stage with just her bass player for what should have been her finest moments. Left of Centre and Blood Makes Noise are a reminder that Vega can neatly mix the avant-garde with the downright populist, but this ham-fisted attempt on reinterpretation falls disappointingly flat. Redemption comes tonight with the excellent Pornographer's Dream, its ancestor Marlene on the Wall and a decently rousing rendition of signature hit Luka. [Wilbur Kane]