feel like garbo...

Here is a fantastic performance by Nanci Griffith of Late Night Grande Hotel during Austin City Limits in the early 90s. As I've said before, Nanci performing one of her songs without playing the guitar is a rare treat. Of course I adore her finger-picking guitar playing, but she really wholly and completely immerses herself in her songs when without it. The lyrics to this one are pretty aching and you sense the experience she's had with those lonely times she sings about.

I feel like Garbo in this late night grande hotel
'cause livin' alone is all I've ever done well

Some criticize the slightly slicker sound of this song and others from this era, but this ranks up there as one of my favorite Nanci songs. Sure there is a bit of studio sheen on the cut, but the emotions displayed in the lyrics and her performance are just as raw and open as anything else she had written.