Live From the Artists Den

As befits an artist obsessed with the details of his work, Rufus Wainwright’s May 17, 2012, performance at the historic Church of the Ascension in New York's Greenwich Village excelled at promoting his then-current album (Out of the Game) without losing the pulse-rising intensity of a smart, well-paced setlist. He starts with an a cappella read of “Candles”—the final track from his last album—and builds from there. “One Man Guy” by his father, Loudon Wainwright III, is given an airing, while Rufus’ late mother, Kate McGarrigle, is paid tribute with “On My Way to Town.” His guests are mostly who you’d expect. Guitarist/singer Teddy Thompson (the son of Richard and Linda Thompson), singer Krystle Warren, and producer/singer Mark Ronson make their presence felt, and the backup band are tasteful and supportive. It’d be easy to call Rufus the star of the show—and his vocals are impeccable—but the true highlight is the meticulous sound of the church translating into a live album that's not about spectacle but about performance.