On April 8th, 2025, Melissa Etheridge brought down the house in a sold out show at The Paramount in concert with Northwell, in Huntington, NY. Coming out in a studded red flannel and rhinestone leather pants, Etheridge opened to wild applause with “Must Be Crazy for Me” off her 1992 album, Never Enough.
Now, when I say sold out, I don’t just mean a packed venue. Stuffed is more like it. So many people came to see Etheridge that every single seat and standing spot was filled. Wherever you found a spot, you were staying there. So, when I tell you that when she broke into “I Want to Come Over” and had everyone on their feet singing and cheering, you could practically feel the floor shake. It’s always impressive when a performer can get the crowd moving, but Etheridge fans are so devoted I was almost knocked over by a few women attempting to break through to the stage and show their love for her. Music is meaningful to people, and this crowd definitely showed that Etheridge’s music is no exception.
Etheridge made sure to include the audience in her performance, as well. At the end of “I Want to Come Over,” the music stopped playing and she invited the crowd to join her for an a cappella version of the chorus. They were more than happy to oblige, as Etheridge and her adoring Long Island fans sang it as one. Then, the music started playing again, and together they all sang the chorus one more time to finish out the song.
At two other moments in the night, Etheridge brought the crowd in with a call and response, the stage lights illuminating the crowd when it was their turn to sing. The most moving was during “A Burning Woman,” where she led the audience in chanting some of her lyrics, such as “I’m a burning woman” and “I will break the chain.” From my place on the side of the stage, watching this moment unfold felt like being a witness to 1500 people shouting their personal affirmations. Yes, I WILL break the chain! The shift toward positive energy was palpable. It was a moment of empowerment. Determination, even. They were ready to take on the world.
None of this was surprising, however, as it is the entire point of the song. Recounting the story of writing “A Burning Woman,” Etheridge said when she was about eight years old, Johnny Cash came to her hometown to perform at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary and, jokingly, “none of us got to see him.” She felt inspired by this historic moment, and in 2024, Etheridge held a concert for the women at the Topeka Correctional Facility in Kansas. In a video posted on Facebook, Etheridge said her goal was to create “something that would inspire them. I wanted to leave them with something.” She released the song in 2024 on her live album I’m Not Broken (Live From Topeka Correctional Facility), along with a two-part docuseries titled MELISSA ETHERIDGE: I’M NOT BROKEN.
The evening was rounded out nicely with some throwbacks to her greatest hits, including “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One,” where she broke out her harmonica for a solo before finishing the song, then held the last word of the song so long and powerfully that the crowd lost their minds. After bows, she came back on stage for an encore with only one song, “Like the Way I Do.” While it might have been only one song, Etheridge made that song last for 15 minutes, adding in a guitar solo on her white pearl Ovation guitar, and a drum duet with Eric Gardner. After throwing her drumsticks to the crowd, making sure one reached the fans in the balconies, she brought everyone in again for the second call and repeat of the night. Finally, after riling the audience to the point of frenzy, Etheridge finished the song, took her final bows, and left the stage. It was a must-see performance. If you do not attend one of the shows on this tour, I can say, with full confidence, you are missing out.
Review and photos by I’m Music Magazine Photographer/Writer Amanda Packey
