Tom Waits, a burlesque dancer and an opera singer walk into a church. That may sound like the start of a joke, but it’s the core of a show that local opera soprano Madeline McNeill put together back in 2023 at the West Central Abbey. Backed by a four-piece band and with visual support from burlesque dancer Miss Nickie B, the performance brought unique life to Waits’ hardscrabble dark musical poetry. That performance was recorded for the documentary God’s Away on Business, which hopes to make the film festival rounds this year. If you want to get a taste of the experience live, McNeill and Co. are running things back for a concert at Hamilton Studio. While this round might lack some of the locational religious overtones, don’t expect any drop off in musical gusto.
God’s Away On Business: The Music of Tom Waits Performed by Madeline McNeill • Fri, Jan. 17 at 7 pm • $30 • 18+ • Hamilton Studio • 1427 W. Dean Ave. • hamilton.live