Sydney Opera House Presents Neko Case
Armed with full band and the heartbreaking beauty of her critically acclaimed new album, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, Grammy-nominated singer- songwriter Neko Case will make her long-awaited Concert Hall debut on Monday 3 March, 2014.
From leading power-pop supergroup The New Pornographers to her 20-year journey through spellbinding confessionals, smouldering torch songs and 2009’s Middle Cyclone – which debuted at #3 on the US Billboard Top 200 and earned two Grammy nominations – the Virginia native will return with her tour de force voice for a performance at her life-affirming best.
Ben Marshall, Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music, said “Neko Case is one of the voices of her generation and I’m incredibly proud to be able to announce her as part of our Music At The House program. I’ve long admired the magnificent uncompromising force of her records and it is thrilling to be able to present her on the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage off the back of her most poignant and potent record yet.”
A restless traveller since leaving a broken home raised on rock ‘n’ roll greats (The Pretenders, The Clash, Blondie), the ‘honorary Canadian’s’ fiery whip-smart song-writing eludes genre classification. Often identifying with the voiceless: women, murderers, and other folks on the fringe of society, Neko is a deft storyteller, drawing on dreams and fables, akin to the gothic-spun folk and roaring sonic affairs of Nick Cave, Calexico and The Sadies.
Described by NPR Music as having ‘one of the most powerful and seductive voices in rock’, the 43-year- old vocal’s stand apart, never failing to mesmerise audiences with the formidable strength, emotion and downcast beauty of her music. Cinematic, ornate and quirky at times, Neko’s music continues to evolve. If Middle Cyclone was all about the awesome but unpredictable power of nature, The Worse Things Get… is about the fallibility of one’s own self, accepting shortcomings and the narrowness of socially- constructed paths and rising above it all.“The most potent album of her career,” (Pitchfork) The Worse Things Get… sees Neko anchored by the lush intertwining harmonies of Kelly Hogan and new collaborators M. Ward, Mudhoney’s Steve Turner and My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, cementing her bloodline connection between country greats (Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn) and indie contemporaries (Cat Power, Feist) alike.
Returning for her first performance in four years, Neko Case brings her signature, luminous voice to the Concert Hall’s epic surrounds – drawing from her 20-year songbook in peerless, soul-baring spirit. ‘I just want people to feel like I was straight with them, and messy, because I just let go and trust them completely’.
This performance is part of Music at the House, the contemporary music program presented by Sydney Opera House that includes upcoming performances by CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers, Grizzly Bear, Bonobo, The National, Yo La Tengo and Iron & Wine, and has included performances by James Blake, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and more.
WHAT: Neko Case
WHEN: 8pm, Monday 3 March, 2014
WHERE: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
TICKETS: From $49 + bf
To find out more visit the Sydney Opera House