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Liz Phair Revisits ‘Guyville’ in S.F.

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Liz Phair has been performing the songs off Exile in Guyville since the album’s release in ’93, yet she expressed a bit of apprehension last night (June 23) about taking on the entire set live after so many years. “It’s pretty incredible to be playing this here tonight,” she said onstage at the Fillmore in a show celebrating the re-release of her iconic debut. “I didn’t know if I could measure up, but God, it’s just like the old days!”

Indeed, the album provided a long-overdue flashback of sorts: Despite having turned from angst-ridden Gen-Xers into a sport coat-wearing set in their 30s, fans sang along to every word — passionately, frantically, and nostalgically. With stick-straight hair and a leather jacket, Phair played the 18 tracks as they appeared in the liner notes — from “6’1″” to”Strange Loop.” Tunes like “Fuck and Run” and “Girls! Girls! Girls!” featured her traditionally raw, lo-fi rock with the support of a backing band, but she pulled out the big guns — and a little Stevie Nicks vibrato — for solo moments on “Help Me, Mary” and “Glory.”

The downfall of artists touring with a single album? It doesn’t leave much room for anything else. Phair admitted to not rehearsing any other songs, but she took the stage like a champ for an appreciated — if disjointed — encore that included a heart-breaking rendition of “Chopsticks” on piano and plenty of witty banter. Would you expect anything else from Phair? Nope.

We asked: Liz Phair is performing Exile in Guyville in its entirely to celebrate the re-release of the album after 15 years. What other ’90s-era artist would you like to see tour now behind a single album?

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

We Asked: Liz Phair is performing Exile in Guyville in its entirely to celebrate the re-release of the album after 15 years. What other ’90s-era artist would you like to see tour now behind a single album?

Back to the story >>
More photos from this show >>

Liz Phair / Photo by Muhammad Asranur

Liz Phair / Photo by Muhammad Asranur

Liz Phair / Photo by Muhammad Asranur

Liz Phair / Photo byMuhammad Asranur

Liz Phair / Photo by Muhammad Asranur

Liz Phair / Photo by Muhammad Asranur

Back to the story >>
Read the fans’ answers >>

More on SPIN.com:
The Exile Factor
Liz Phair to Perform ‘Guyville’ in S.F., Chicago