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After an intermission of chirping bird sounds, the lights went dark and the audience was treated to a film retrospective of Ono's life and work. There was Ono singing with John, having her clothes cut by strangers in "Cut Piece," and with a young Sean Lennon accepting a Grammy for Double Fantasy.The screen pulled up and a diminutive Ono was smiling on stage, wearing a black tracksuit and white beret. Standing beside her was Sean, holding a guitar, along with Japanese superhero Cornelius, and Yuka Honda of Cibo Matto fame.
After Ono's opening standing ovation, the Plastic Ono Band played a series of songs off its new album Between My Head and the Sky, beginning with the fast-paced "Waiting For The D Train."
Then Ono's signature guttural yelps, climax-style ahhs, and warbled cackles began and stretched through most of the two-hour set. She shoulder-danced to hectic new wave hit "Walking on Thin Ice," sat sweetly humming between Lennon and guest acoustic guitarist Harper Simon for "Will I," and yelled along with a R. Crumb-esque animated video for "The Sun is Down."
The banter and smiles shared between mother and son during sentimental pieces was downright adorable and Yoko seemed to genuinely enjoy herself on the Fox's expansive stage.
The show ended where only a performance of this nature could -- with a giant group sing-along to "Give Peace a Chance." The Plastic Ono Band, Deerhoof, Petra Haden, and friends took turns singing words straight from yesterday's newspaper headlines followed by the audience chiming in for the chorus. "All we are saying," we screamed, "is giiive peace a chance."
Critics Notebook
Personal bias: I used to think of Ono only with regard to the Beatles/John Lennon, failing to recognize her talent for way too long. The guilt haunts me.
Random detail: The crowd was given tiny flashlights and encouraged to shine the lights towards the stage while Ono stared back and repeated the words "I love you."
By the way: Sean Lennon and Cornelius will play a much smaller show tonight at the Independent with Lennon's band The Ghost of a Saber Toothed Tiger.
