Concert #639 - JD McPherson at McCabe's Guitar Shop (June 9, 2012)

I'm afraid I'll run out of superlatives before I finish this short write-up. Last night at McCabe's, JD McPherson came out of nowhere to deliver one of the best concerts I've ever seen there. I said "came out of nowhere" simply because JD is a late-bloomer with a strikingly short resume - although he's in his mid-thirties, he has only one album under his belt. But what an album it is!

Sometime in April, I bought my concert ticket on the strength of JD's "North Side Gal" video, which was an instant knock-out with me. I showed up at McCabe's with a heightened sense of curiosity and excitement, wondering whether JD's excellent debut album and catchy video could possibly be matched by his live show. And it wasn't only me - there was a buzz in the air last night at McCabe's, some sort of a tension one could almost touch.

About JD. He's exceptionally likeable. Great personality, without a trace of an attitude, and up there on the stage he was just "one of the guys". Plays with a lot of intensity and abandonment. Has a sense of humor. Great guitar player. An outstanding songwriter as well. Has a voice that's seemingly made for the kind of music he does, namely old-school rockabilly, country-flavored rock & roll, with a touch of ska and blues thrown in just for fun. A tireless performer. Gave the crowd a generous four-song encore.  Classy enough to acknowledge the Americans, the evening's opening act.

In certain ways, JD reminded me of Willie Nile, with whom he has a couple of things in common: a huge heart and boundless energy, all housed in a small body.

JD McPherson (left), drummer Jason Smay and bassist Jimmy Sutton

The music was loud and I would not have wanted it any other way - that's how rock & roll is supposed to sound. I liked the way JD mixed his own songs with a few old classic numbers, such as "Farmer John" and Chuck Berry's "Oh Carol". Exceptionally good was "Oil In My Lamp", an old religious tune recorded by the Ska Kings, among others.

We got to hear most of the songs from his debut album and they all sounded great. The uptempo "Fire Bug" and "Wolf Teeth" were particularly effective, but then so were the slower "A Gentle Awakening" and "Signs And Signifiers". "North Side Gal" was fabulous, even though there were a few slight deviations from the recorded version.

JD's set list

A great musician deserves a great band, and that's what JD had - a great band. Jimmy Sutton is possibly the best upright-bass player I have ever seen. Hearing him play was a joy and it'll be hard to forget his intense facial expressions and body language. Moreover, as a special bonus for me, he was wearing the same "Bethlehem Steel" T-shirt I noticed and liked in the "North Side Gal" video. And he can sing, too. Bo Didley's "You Don't Love Me, You Don't Care", featuring Jimmy on vocals, was one of the best moments of the evening. By the way, Jimmy Sutton is the producer of JD's only album.

Jimmy Sutton during the soundcheck

Everyone else in the band was great - drummer Jason Smay, keyboardist Ray (last name?) and a saxophonist whose name I did not catch. The latter's contribution deserves a special mention, as it helped preserve the overall sound of the album.

JD McPherson thanking the crowd

The stage

Producer and bassist-extraordinaire Jimmy Sutton, after the show

The McPherson Express, parked in front of the venue

Concert poster

The show was opened by the Americans, a local band that seems to get better and better every time I see them. Their power-rockabilly style was a perfect match for JD's music.

Concert #629 - The Americans at McCabe's Guitar Shop (March 11, 2012)

I first saw the Americans in October 2010, when they opened for the Secret Sisters at McCabe's - they impressed me quite a bit, so a couple of months ago, when they were booked to headline at McCabe's, I was one of the first ticket buyers. A few weeks later and totally against my initial prediction, the show sold out.

For those wondering about the origin of the band's moniker: The Americans hail from the United States of America, America for short, a country located on the North-American continent and inhabited by Americans. That's precisely the same country that has given us the Five Americans ("Western Union"), the American Breed ("Bend Me, Shape Me"), Jay & The Americans ("Come A Little Bit Closer") and, of course, America ("A Horse With No Name", "Ventura Highway", etc, etc.). Seriously now, the fact that such an obvious name was still available for the band to pick up and use just boggles my mind. Good for them!

Upon entering the concert room, we found on our seats a printed set list, something one does not often see. Included were not only the song titles, but also some additional information about the songs that comprised the first half of the concert. Here's the list:

Wearing suits and carrying acoustic instruments, the Americans remained seated throughout their first set, which was a bit unexpected from a band known for playing mostly high-energy rockabilly. The whole thing can be described as interesting, different, definitely well-done, but not pulse-raising. Two songs stood out: Zac Sokolow's fiddle medley, with Tim Carr drumming on the strings of Zac's fiddle, and "Uncle Dave's Beloved Solo", showcasing Zac's exquisite banjo playing.

Stage setup for the acoustic set

The Americans at McCabe's during their acoustic set

Tim Carr drumming on the strings of Zac Sokolow's fiddle

After a short break, the four Americans came back dressed in white T-shirts, ready to rock. And rock they did. With their acoustic instruments mostly out of the way, they played loud and fast. My favorites were "Mannie" and "Prison Yard Walk", two of their own songs.

The Americans at McCabe's, during their second set

 The Americans are:

Patrick Ferris - Vocals, guitar, mouth harmonica
Jake Faulkner - Upright bass, electric bass, mouth harmonica
Zac Sokolow - Guitar, banjo, fiddle
Tim Carr - Drums, percussion, guitar

Patrick Ferris is one heck of a musician - his voice is a deadly weapon, made precisely for the kind of music the band likes to play. With his looks, delivery and guitar playing, he would be perfect in the movie role of a rocker from the late fifties and early sixties. Zac Sokolow impressed me as well - I enjoyed watching him switch from one instrument to another and I found myself focusing often on his guitar licks. The rhythm section was great, too. I liked Tim's one-handed drumming, while the other hand kept busy with a shaker. Jake sounded exactly the way a rockabilly bassist is supposed to sound and, what's more, he also looks the part.

Patrick, Tim and Jake

The band's best moments came when they rocked the hardest and played the loudest. A few of the songs they played at McCabe's are now available for your viewing pleasure on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg_JWh7K5T0&feature=context&context=G2db559aFAAAAAAAADAA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qneSQUatSUU&context=C43beb86ADvjVQa1PpcFP87hWp36R73yPmDeULO3ov_lpFbe_gG1I=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oOp99W0h4s&context=C4fd247aADvjVQa1PpcFP87hWp36R732x3iN_qvKsmARSLe40D3lA=

The song list of the band's second set

Sadly though, I could not enjoy the show to its fullest, as I was constantly being distracted by two overzealous young ladies who, I suppose on behalf of the band, were recording the show. Their constant movement and incessant clicking of their SLR camera annoyed me quite a bit, so by the time the show ended, all I wanted to do is get out of there, which I did. It would have been nice for me to hang around, shake hands with the four Americans and thank them for their outstanding music.

Concert #575 - The Secret Sisters at McCabe's Guitar Shop (October 29, 2010)

At my respectable age, I seldom go out to catch a show that starts just before midnight. But then I seldom have the chance to see the Secret Sisters in a small intimate venue - these young ladies won't be playing small intimate venues for long.

It was yet another unbelievable concert at McCabe's. It all started with one of the best opening acts I'd ever seen there, the Americans. They came out at 11:15 PM, played some great rockabilly, six songs in all. Watch this YouTube video to get acquainted with the Americans:

Laura and Lydia Rogers, a.k.a. the Secret Sisters, came out at 11:50 PM and played just about one hour. They had been on their feet since early in the morning, but their performance was strong. With only one album out, they sang the majority of the songs from the album, which - needless to say - I knew very well, and it was great. Laura played an acoustic guitar - she's not much of a guitarist, and she's the first one to tell you so.

There is no difference between their studio and live sound, which is a tribute not only to their singing ability, but also to T Bone Burnett's production. Their harmonies are divine, their voices are perfect and so is their fledgling repertoire. Among the highlights: "Do You Love An Apple", "House Of Gold" and the self-penned "Tennessee Me". I would have liked to hear "Somethin' Stupid", but you can't have it all.

Here's how "House Of Gold"sounded at McCabe's:

The Secret Sisters on stage at McCabe's

After the show, the Sisters mingled with the crowd and signed autographs. My better half and I grabbed two posters, which Laura & Lydia signed for us.

The Secret Sisters getting ready to sign autographs

Our autographed posters