Patti Smith @ Congregation Beth Elohim (Brooklyn by the Book festival)

Patti Smith
@ Congregation Beth Elohim
Brooklyn, NY - September 15, 2016

Featuring readings of new passages from her latest memoir, M Train, Patti Smith, in a manner befitting her historical presence and age, is staring down the prospect of time but meeting it with the gusto and power one would expect of her. In other words, she's thinking about death and detective TV shows (most especially The Killing).

Interspersed with the readings and fantastical digressions was something of a proper acoustic gig, meaning one Lenny Kaye was on hand to assist. After an initial reading of her pondering following the passing of Lou Reed, the duo played a chilling, goosebumping cover of "Pale Blue Eyes", reverberating around the temple. Later came "Beneath the Southern Cross" and "Dancing Barefoot". At the finale, the Chicago-born, Philly and Jersey raised, New York City Living, Detroit-dipped Icon of a myriad of American energies played that gem that she said was in honor of her late husband, Fred "Sonic" Smith, and of course was initially assembled by another American rock sage, the Boss of them all, who himself, like many of his peers, finally picked up the pen recently to reflect on this fleeting vestige of existence - "Because the Night".