Sean Lennon seems to be caught off guard when he?s told it appears he?s never struggled for a musical identity.
“That?s very kind of you to say,” said Lennon hesitantly, as if not quite certain the compliment was sincere. “I don?t think everyone realizes that. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I always knew who I was and what I was [musically]. I have been waiting for everyone else to figure it out.”
When the only child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, played last Sunday to a near-capacity crowd at the Birchmere in Alexandria, it seemed those in the audience had done just that. Whoops and applause were in great abundance as Lennon and his band played a mix of songs from his critically acclaimed sophomore album “Friendly Fire,” including the title track and highlights “Parachute,” “On Again, Off Again” and “Headlights.”
Alice and Bill Beck drove from Tracyville, Md., to catch the show.
“This is the kind of music that goes in your CD player and stays in your CD player,” said Bill Beck, 50, of Lennon?s music. “I know this will be a very good time.”
And no one seemed to have a better time than the famously guarded Lennon, who joked with the all-ages audience as his new guitar gave him some on-stage troubles (“I bought it in Portland and it wanted to stay there”) and touring (“I was thinking of staging a mosh pit, but I don?t want to get dip on my tie”)
A few weeks earlier, Lennon discussed writing “Friendly Fire,” which revolves around his breakup with actress Bijou Phillips after her rendezvous with his best friend, who died before he and Lennon reconciled.
“I didn?t sit down and say I was going to write a record that follows the disintegration of my relationship,” he said. “It just connected. It was just organic.”
But even though Lennon told the crowd that he thinks the album and accompanying DVD are “quite good” ? an assessment that again drew hearty applause ? the show spotlights the music in a differentway.
“Playing music for people live ? that?s how it?s supposed to be,” he said.
“The record is one thing, but this is beautiful,” said Lennon.
IF YOU GO
Sean Lennon with Jarflys, Siah
» Venue: Rams Head Live, Baltimore
» Time: 9 p.m. Friday
» Tickets: www.ramsheadlive.com; 410-244-1131
