Beth Orton Brings 'Comfort' To Boston's Museum of Fine Arts

Menacing clouds and intermittent downpours in Boston last night (July 2) brought Beth Orton’s pair of originally planned outdoor shows to the soft lights and comfy seats of the Museum of Fine Art’s Remis Auditorium. Those who appreciate the stripped-down Orton of Comfort of Strangers were in luck, not only because the majority of the set consisted of songs off her most recent album, but also because there were no electronics onstage; simply a smattering of guitars plus piano, violin, and mandolin (the last two deftly handled by tour mate Rob Moose).

The show certainly did not go entirely smoothly; Orton took lengthy timeouts to tune her guitar (and saucily swear at it in her cute British accent, to the crowd’s delight), and by the end of her second set, she was exhausted from jet-lag and her voice was straining for the notes. Yet, she repeatedly asserted that this second audience was far better than the first, and in efforts to please us completely, she re-emerged for an encore of “Safe in Your Arms” and an enchanting solo acoustic version of “Stolen Car.” With the crowd on its feet, she gave a slight curtsey and left the stage; the house lights came up, and we were forced to file outside, back into the world.

We Asked: Beth Orton’s gone through some stylistic changes over the years. Which of her previous records would you prefer the next one to resemble?

Read the fans’ answers >>
More photos from this show >>