Celebrating Sheryl Crow

Saw Sheryl Crow tonight at the Tweeter Center in Camden. She was energetic of voice, yet somewhat more introspective than I've seen her before, in a 75-minute set that gave way to John Mayer. (They're co-headlining a tour.)

Resplendent in white vest and matching pants with a wide brown belt, the crowd celebrated Crow's return to the stage after being treated for breast cancer this past winter. During "The First Cut Is the Deepest," her fans seemed to understand the poignancy of Cat Stevens' lyrics: "I still want you by my side/Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried."

She cranked up the volume on "Good Is Good" from her current "Wildflower" CD, tore through "Real Gone" from the animated movie "Cars," and delivered a poignant rendition of "Home," complete with a sampling of Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown."

She seemed to enjoy the open-air Tweeter Center venue and acknowledged the large crowd on the grassy hill: "It's a perfect night. You have your blanket, a lawn chair, chicken and some weed."

Crow, who always has been outspoken -- a spat with WalMart over lyrics about the retail giant selling guns to kids, a guitar stap that bore the words "No War" before the U.S. invasion of Iraq -- was more understated Saturday night. During "Redemption Day," -- "Come leaders, come you men of great/Let us hear you pontificate/Your many virtues laid to waste/And we aren't listening" -- famous quotes about peace and nonviolence were projected on a video screen behind the band. The final quote from John Lennon, "All we are saying is give peace a chance," was followed by a giant peace symbol on the screen. (How long has it been since you've seen that?) Her final admonishment to the crowd: "Vote."

As she closed her set, Crow gave the crowd what they wanted with a block that included "If It Makes You Happy," in which she encouraged a willing crowd to sing along, before moving into a smart pairing of "All I Wanna Do" and "Soak up the Sun." She finished with a raucous version -- made even more immediate by her cancer scare -- of "Everyday Is A Winding Road."