I'm used to what they call 'African' time. So when Martha Wainwright walks onto the stage at precisely at 7:30 p.m. and heads into her first song, I am shocked. The magnificent Greek Theatre beset by the lush trees and hills of Griffith Park, is still half empty.

"I always think it's good to watch Rufus when I need a kick up the ass," she says affectionately about her brother. Armed with a guitar, her songs are what she calls 'depressing stories' but she is really funny. When heading into lesser known Edith Piaf material, she is on form.

The first half of Rufus' set is arranged like a song-cycle visual art piece. He arrives dramatically on stage in a 17-foot-long black, peacock-feathered cape worked in with visuals by Scottish video artist Douglas Gordon. The set is stripped down, armed with only the grand piano, the mood is dark and intimate and for a moment I mistake him for a Twilight-esque vampire. The song-cycle runs like a series of classical movements presenting his entire new album, "Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu" with brief interludes. The audience is instructed not to applaud, but some impulsively do and they are shooshed hesitantly.

The artwork is an image of a black eye projected onto the screen which opens and closes, and sometimes shed a tear. The whole piece runs on high-emotion and seems to be a tribute to the Wainwrights late- mother, especially poignant with the song "Martha". The piece borders on a little too dramatic especially since his exit is literally walking towards the light. The giant applause that explodes, is like one-huge orgasmic release.

The second half is lighter, and Wainwright beams on stage in a bright red-suit. He tells the crowd stories about growing up and his connection to Los Angeles, also that "Griffith Park- one of the only parks I've ever had sex in." His rapport is not perfect, and sometimes he forgets words of songs. But the end picks up where favorites "Hallelujah", "Poses" and "Cigarettes and Chocolate" wake everyone up again. There is even a crazed fan who runs onto stage, escorted away by security.

One thing is clear about the Wainwrights- they like to keep it in the family. When Martha is singing, her husband joins her on piano. When Rufus is singing, Martha joins him on stage, and later brings her new-born baby on stage too. The concert ends with a moving performance just by Rufus, with a piece composed and written by their late mother, titled "The Walking Song".

To reach staff reporter Atiyyah Khan, click here.

Photos by Heika Burnison.