McLachlan tour mixes new, old

o What: Sarah McLachlan, in concert.

o When: 8 p.m. Feb. 2.

o Where: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway, Portland.

o Cost: $47.05-$76.85 through Ticketmaster, 800-745-3000 or http://ticketmaster.com.

o Information: http://pcpa.com.

“As one door closes, another one opens.”

Canadian songstress Sarah McLachlan invoked that old saying while discussing changes in the music business, but it could just as easily describe her recent experiences with divorce and trying to revive her groundbreaking Lilith Fair tour.

Lilith, the traveling concert festival McLachlan founded and headlined in the 1990s, proved an all-female bill could indeed sell tickets — it broke records at several venues — and even opened the minds of radio programmers that had refused to play two songs in a row by women artists.

But it didn’t fare so well in the festival-saturated, economically lousy summer of 2010. At least a dozen tour dates were canceled, and Lilith was part of a long list of tours (including the Eagles, Jonas Brothers and the Country Throwdown festival package) that canceled dates and became prime examples of the downturn during last summer’s concert season.

Still, McLachlan’s first album of new material in seven years, “Laws of Illusion,” was well received. It grabbed the No. 2 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart after its June 2010 debut. That apparently created opportunities for McLachlan to morph Lilith into the “Taste of Lilith” tour she took to Australia in the fall, as well as build the “Sarah and Friends” tour she debuted in November. It continues with a six-week run of stateside dates this winter, followed by a monthlong Canadian tour in March.

“I love touring live,” McLachlan said in a recent interview. “To me, that’s where I shine.”

Booked into theaters, the “Friends” shows allow McLachlan to showcase songs from “Illusion,” her first album since going through a traumatic divorce from her former drummer, Ashwin Sood. She couldn’t do that with her Lilith slot, which came at the end of a long day for fans. By then, she said, they want to hear songs they already know and love, and don’t have the patience to sit through a lot of unfamiliar material.

By now, however, they’ve had more exposure to the album’s songs. The intimate theater settings for the “Friends” tour also better lends itself to mixing new in with old. McLachlan also holds a Q&A with these audiences — offering a rare opportunity for direct interaction with the eight-time Juno Award and three-time Grammy Award winner — and shines the spotlight on Lilith accompanists Butterfly Boucher and Melissa McClelland. Dubbed “burgeoning troubadours” by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, these two singer-songwriters each get a short set of their own.

Though she generally tours only in the summer, McLachlan also knows one must ride whatever momentum one has when it comes to “getting your music out there” — and selling tickets is still one of the best ways to achieve that. She also can share cathartic moments with live audiences that neither could experience any other way.

“People connect to my songs on a really human, visceral, emotional level,” said McLachlan. “I always hear, ‘You’re talking to me about my feelings.’”

Of the sometimes nakedly emotional tracks on “Illusion,” she admitted, “I had no idea what kind of record I was going to write. I never do. I don’t start out with any preconceived notions. I just write what comes out.”

Though the songs are autobiographical, she said, “There is a lot of creative license.” Despite the anguish contained in lyrics about love’s dissolution, there’s also euphoria on “Illusion.” It’s captured in songs such as “Loving You is Easy,” within the lines, “’Cause I’m alive and I’m on fire/Shot like a starburst into the sky/Ahh the fury of desire it burns so bright electrifies/You light me up you take me higher.”

Interestingly, though, McLachlan dismissed the notion of wrapping herself up in love again — at least, not now.

“There was a time when I felt real sorry for myself and thought, ‘I’ve just turned 40, I’ve got two small kids.’ That’s a tricky place to be in. But I have a really full, fantastic life. I have great friends, a great family. I’m happily single right now. I couldn’t imagine being involved in a new relationship right now because I’ve got too much going on,” she said. “And you know what? It’ll happen when it happens. I’m not searching it out because my life is really full. If it happens, great; if not, that’s OK, too.”

Asked if she had any advice for musicians when it comes to dating band members, she said, “Honestly, I’m loath to give anyone advice about anything. I guess my only advice would be follow your heart and make sure you’re doing the right thing.”

People are going to make mistakes, and sometimes, those mistakes provide great lessons, she noted.

“But if there’s anything I’ve learned about love and relationships,” McLachlan added, “people do exactly what they want, no matter what people tell ’em.”