Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Each album in Sarah McLachlan’s acclaimed catalogue holds a special place in the hearts of listeners, especially considering they collectively sold over 40 million copies, but “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” in particular put her on the international map.

The Canadian singer/songwriter/guitarist/piano player and Lilith Fair founder is currently commemorating the 30th anniversary of the landmark recording during an extensive tour, which filled up the entire Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island.

Prior to fulfilling the promise to perform the project in its entirely, McLachlan moved through about an hour of other treasured tunes with her angelic voice in mint condition, backed by an atmospheric, five-piece band and banter ranging from her maturing children to friendships, romantic relationships and affirming the many affiliations of Pride Month.

Artistically speaking, she began by offering “Sweet Surrender” and continued “Building A Mystery” as the headliner tapped into two of the most hypnotic and humongous alternative pop tunes of the 1990s, while the similarly iconic “I Will Remember You” followed in acoustic contexts.

It was a brave way to begin considering their significant status, but it turned out she had more coming around the corner, including “World On Fire” and “Adia” representing the blockbuster “Fumbling” follow-ups “Surfacing” and “Afterglow.”

As for the primary purpose, McLachlan did indeed lead everyone into “Ecstasy,” thanks in part to the punch of “Possession,” in addition to fellow singles “Good Enough,” “Hold On” and “Ice Cream,” which helped secure her a prominent place somewhere between 10,000 Maniacs, Tori Amos, The Cranberries and Sinead O’Connor at the time.

However, the true treat for lifelong listeners was getting a chance to catch the much less frequently performed likes of “Wait,” “Plenty,” “Circle,” “Fear” and the title track, to name a handful of the delightful dozen that definitely still deliver three decades later.

Unfortunately, Broken Social Scene indie rocker/solo folksy troubadour Feist suddenly fell ill and had to sit out of her scheduled supporting slot, but at least a last minute substitute in the form of “vintage soul songbird” Annalee, plus McLachlan playing practically a double set, certainly softened the blow for an otherwise enrapturing evening.

For additional information on Sarah McLachlan, visit SarahMcLachlan.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island include Pixies and Modest Mouse (Jun. 19); Third Eye Blind (Jun. 28); Caifanes and Café Tacvba (Jun. 29); Mother Mother and Cavetown (Jul. 13); A Day To Remember (Jul. 25); Vampire Weekend (Jul. 26-27); Tedeschi Trucks Band (Jul. 31); Bush (Aug. 7); Thirty Seconds To Mars (Aug. 10); Omar Apollo (Aug. 23); Glass Animals (Aug. 28-29); King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (Sept. 1); Wallows (Sept. 2); Avril Lavigne (Sept. 10); Live and Stone Temple Pilots (Sept. 11); Falling In Reverse (Sept. 17); Kygo (Sept. 25); Porter Robinson (Sept. 27); Kings Of Leon (Sept. 28) and Queens Of The Stone Age (Oct. 2). For additional details, visit LiveNation.com.

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