"Sex Kills" was never one of my favorites, especially when Joni was making the rounds of radio and television and seemingly played it at every stop. Then, after seeing her perform it live, I came away with an entirely different take.
During that magical night at the Gorge Amphitheater in 1998 Joni and the band transformed what to me had previously been a blase examination of contemporary society into a truly apocalyptic vision. With Brian Blade leading the way, the band (Greg Liesz and Larry Klein) gradually built the foundation which began slowly and quickly added huge drama. I remember sitting there in awe with thoughts of a whirling dark cloud that threatened to overtake everything in its path. Blade's drumming rolled through the song with crescendo after crescendo and created a feeling of turmoil, which is, I believe, the song's intent...to examine modern perils. I am very much looking forward to hearing the orchestrated version of this song. This would be a fine time for Joni to push the arrangement into a cacophonous edge which would once again portray our world for what it is today...complex, trying, and often tragic. Scott
