Concert #752 - Jill Sobule & Tammy Faye Starlite at McCabe's Guitar Shop (July 17, 2015)

What was expected to be a typical McCabe's evening - first a short opening set, followed by the headliner - turned out to be an outstanding double-header, with the two protagonists, Jill Sobule and Tammy Faye Starlite, delivering performances that were as entertaining as they were dissimilar.

Taking the stage first and appearing as a faux Marianne Faithfull, Tammy Faye impressed me with a performance like few others. No, she did not attempt to replicate Marianne's gentle voice from the sixties, nor what was left of her vocal cords after years of heavy smoking. Instead, Tammy used her own voice and her own phrasing to perform ten of Marianne's best-known songs, and - to Tammy's credit - her renditions still sounded a bit like Marianne's originals.

Tammy Faye Starlite at McCabe's

While playing the role of Marianne Faithfull, an artist not known for stellar vocals, Tammy Faye managed to impress me, paradoxically, precisely with the quality of her voice. Everything she sang sounded great to these ears - actually she sounded so good, that I gave her a pass for her overly frequent use of the F-word. With so many great songs, there's no way I can pick a concert highlight, but I will mention Leonard Cohen's "Tower Of Song", Shell Silverstein's "The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan" and John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" as some of the evening's finest. 

Tammy Faye Starlite's set list

Note the inclusion of "Why'd Ya Do It", a three-minute song with lyrics of a vulgarity I had not heard in my twenty-six years of frequenting the venerable McCabe's Guitar Shop. But don't blame Tammy Faye - she was just channeling Marianne Faithfull's work, and yes indeed, Marianne is credited to be one of the co-writers of the song. Interestingly enough, another co-writer, Barry Reynolds, was right there on the stage with Tammy Faye, providing able acoustic guitar accompaniment. Tammy's exceptionally intense rendition of this controversial song will be hard to forget, that's for sure.

Throughout the evening, Tammy Faye's outstanding performance was further enhanced by musicians Kevin Salem and Barry Reynolds, who played their acoustic guitars with great skill. Barry is known as Marianne Faithfull's long-time collaborator as a guitarist and songwriter.

Barry Reynolds at McCabe's

Tammy Faye's opening set went on for seventy minutes and, as far as I was concerned, her time on stage  just wasn't long enough, that's how much I enjoyed her portrayal of Marianne Faithfull. 

Tammy Faye Starlite at McCabe's

Tammy Faye Starlite at McCabe's

After a short intermission, Jill Sobule entered the concert room from the back and, with support from guitarist Kevin Salem, she sang "Almost Great" while standing right in the middle of the audience.

Jill Sobule and Kevin Salem kicking off the evening's second set

As expected, Jill sang some of her best-known numbers, such as "Palm Springs", "When They Say We Want Our America Back", "Where Is Bobbie Gentry", "I Kissed A Girl", "Supermodel"  and "Mexican Wrestler". At one point during her show, Jill brought out composer-producer-arranger Steve Weisberg, who accompanied her on the piano on "Party Girl" and a few newer numbers Jill wrote to the play of "Yentl", one of Isaac Bashevis-Singer's best-known pieces of work. Not having fully memorized her own lyrics, Jill asked for someone to come up to the stage and hold her iPad so that she could read the words - long story short, I ended up on the stage clutching her iPad while trying to remain as motionless as I possibly could. "I Hate Girl Things", "Jonathan And David" and "What Have I Done (Oh Shit)" were the three Yentl songs Jill sang while I was on the stage. Later in the show, Jill asked me to hold her iPad once again - this time she sang "I Hate Horses", a song that appears on "Dottie's Charms", her latest album.

Jill Sobule at McCabe's

Jill Sobule at McCabe's

Steve Weisberg at McCabe's

Yours Truly helping out with the lyrics

Jill wrapped up her show with "One Of These Days" and "Good Life", which turned into a joyous sing-along. All-in-all, I had a heck of a good time. I know Jill will be back, not so sure about Tammy Faye, but if she ever plays McCabe's again, you bet that I'll be there.

Concert #685 - Jill Sobule at McCabe's (September 6, 2013)

Jill Sobule's concert at McCabe's last week was not very different from her earlier appearances there and that's not a negative. Her formula works for me every time - great tunes, thought-provoking lyrics (Jill has plenty of those), good humor, a sweet singing voice, a couple of unannounced guests. And then there's that joyful look on her face - no one exudes good vibes quite like Jill and in the end, I don't see how anyone could walk away disappointed from her show.

Jill opened her set with "Palm Springs", followed by "When They Say We Want Our America Back", which quickly turned into a hilarious sing-along. Good songs kept coming in quick succession: "Houdini's Box", "Heroes", "Lucy At The Gym", "Wendell Lee", "Somewhere In New Mexico", "Margaret" and a few more. Somewhat surprisingly, we did not get to hear "Where Is Bobbie Gentry", in spite a few requests from the audience.

Jill Sobule at McCabe's

Jill's first guest of the evening was Tom Brosseau. His performance, albeit brief, made me regret my decision to skip his headlining appearance at McCabe's just a few weeks earlier. Tom played the acoustic guitar, sang backup vocals and then he knocked me out with his solo rendition of "Hallelujah, I'm A Bum", an old pre-WWII tune.

Tom Brosseau at McCabe's

Jill's second guest was Kate Micucci, who happens to be one half of the Garfunkel & Oates singing comedy duo that has achieved a decent level of popularity in Los Angeles. Her delivery of "Walking In Los Angeles", a song she wrote herself, was quite good.

Kate Micucci at McCabe's

For her one-song encore and in response to my request, Jill sang "Goof Life", a song that drives me crazy every time I hear it. Described as "a happy song about the end of the world", this little gem perfectly captures Jill's boundless joie-de-vivre and sense of humor.

Jill Sobule at McCabe's

Concert #670 - Jill Sobule at McCabe's Guitar Shop (April 6, 2013)

Q: So how was last night's concert?
A: It was thoroughly enjoyable. Jill was at her delightful best, vocally and otherwise. Everything she did connected with me big time. I love her music and I adore the way she delivers it from the stage, with her warm personality and her never-ending smile. And she's got a sense of humor, too. As far as I'm concerned, Jill is the real deal. 

Q: Was there an opening act?
A: No.

Q: Did Jill follow a predetermined set list?
A: Not at all. The entire show had a "living room" feel, with Jill taking multiple requests from the audience.

Q: So you don't have a printed set list, do you?
A: I don't, but here are the songs she performed, some solo, others with company: 

Resistance Song (the show opener)

When They Say "We Want Our America Back"

Where Is Bobbie Gentry

Rainy Day Parade

Mexican Wrestler

San Francisco (with Margaret Cho)

Jet Pack

Lucy At The Gym

Bitter 
Big Shoes

Under The Disco Ball

Somewhere In New Mexico

Wendell Lee

Never My Love (the old hit of the Association)

Good Life (grand finale)

Underdog Victorious (encore)

Q: Any guests? 
A: Yes, Jill brought out three unannounced guests. 

Q: Who were they?
A: Margaret Cho, Wayne Kramer and Dan Wilson.

Left to right: Dan Wilson, Wayne Kramer, Jill Sobule, Margaret Cho

Q: Did you know who they were?
A: I knew Margaret Cho from her frequent TV appearances and I was aware of Wayne Kramer's association with MC5. On the other hand, I knew nothing about Dan Wilson.  

Q: How did Margaret Cho do as a singer?
A: Surprisingly well. I knew her as a comedian and actress, but she can sing as well. I liked her voice on "San Francisco", a song she performed alongside Jill. She also sang one of her own compositions, but I don't remember the title. Margaret Cho, the musician, appeared to be in her element up there on the stage.

Q: Any moments of levity?
A: Of course. Plenty. At one point, Jill called her Mom on the phone and, with the cell phone held close to the microphone, we all got to hear her Mom sing a few lines from "Big Shoes". 

Jill Sobule talking on the phone with her Mom

Q: Any coarse language on the stage?
A: There were a few F-bombs thrown in here and there by Jill, Margaret and Dan. Usually I don't appreciate foul language on the stage, especially when used by women performers, but someone as likeable as Jill will get away with almost anything. Heck, she even got me to sing along the expletive-filled chorus of "When They Say We Want Our America Back"!

Q: What was the highlight of the show?
A: Oh, it had to be "A Good Life", performed by Jill, Margaret, Wayne and Dan together, complete with crowd participation. That song gave me good vibes that stayed with me for hours.

Q: What about Wayne Kramer
A: Wayne came out with an acoustic guitar and sang two songs solo, with no one else on the stage. First he did his own "Bad Seed", then he followed up with "High School", an old MC5 song. He made a good impression on me.

Wayne Kramer of MC5 fame at McCabe's

Q: How about Dan Wilson?
A: He sang two of his own songs, "Your Brighter Days" and "All Kinds". I liked the latter better. Considering the brevity of his set, I think he spoke a little too much. After I got home, I googled him and that's when I learned about his Grammy-winning work and career in general. Very impressive.

Grammy-winner Dan Wilson

Q: So would you want to see Jill again in concert?

A: The answer is a resounding yes. I like her recordings, but her live shows are something truly special.

Wayne Kramer, Margaret Cho and Jill Sobule at the end of the show

Jill Sobule chatting with fans after the show

The merch table

The stage

Concert #432 - Perla Batalla Presents The Gospel Of Leonard Cohen at the Royce Hall (February 24, 2007)

Five years after the show, I still get the goosebumps just thinking about the unbelievable array of performers and the beauty of the music they delivered on February 24, 2007, at UCLA's Royce Hall. Having the opportunity to witness shows like this is one of the perks of living in Los Angeles, never mind the earthquakes, floods, fires, smog, traffic and the occasional riot.

LA's own Perla Batalla, Leonard Cohen's longtime backup singer, acted as the evening's MC. It was my introduction to a singer whose great voice and confident stage presence gave her instant musical credibility in my eyes.

Musicians kept coming and going, yet one thing remained constant: the beauty of Leonard Cohen's music. I knew most of the songs and it was great fun listening to all those different renditions coming from artists whose musical directions had little to do with one another. Here's the set list:

Suzanne - Perla Batalla

Dance Me To The End Of Love - Bill Gable & Perla Batalla

The Land Of Plenty - Howard Tate

Chelsea Hotel No. 2 - Bill Frisell (instrumental)

Ain't No Cure For Love - Julie Christensen

Waiting For The Miracle - Jackson Browne

First We Take Manhattan - Jill Sobule

Coming Back To You - Michael McDonald

Sisters Of Mercy - Martha Gonzalez

Intermission

Tacoma Trailer - Bill Frisell (instrumental)

Bird On The Wire - Perla Batalla

Tower Of Song - Howard Tate

Famous Blue Raincoat - Martha Gonzalez

A Thousand Kisses Deep - Jackson Browne

If It Be Your Will - Julie Christensen

Ballad Of The Absent Mare - Javier Colis / Perla Batalla

El Carnicero (The Butcher ) - Javier Colis

Who By Fire - Jill Sobule

Anthem - Julie Christensen & Perla Batalla

Democrazy - Dave Alvin

Encore

Hallelujah - Michael McDonald & John Adams Middle School Madrigal Singers

Three songs in particular are hard to forget. "The Land Of Plenty", delivered by the great Howard Tate in the true fashion of an old-school soul singer, remains to this day one of the best live moments I have ever witnessed. Just as electrifying was "Anthem", stunningly sung by Julie Christensen and Perla Batalla. Closing the show and thoroughly exciting the crowd, Dave Alvin performed "Democracy" in a style that is hard to describe in words.

Howard Tate

Jill Sobule turned out to be the revelation of the evening - she sang "First We Take Manhattan" and "Who By Fire", and both interpretations were top-notch. Surprisingly, I also liked Michael McDonald, a singer whose vocal style has never been my cup of tea. Particularly good was his rendition of "Hallelujah", performed together with a children's choir.

Jill Sobule

Michael McDonald

Spain's Javier Colis and Southern-Californian Martha Gonzalez added an enjoyable Latin twist to Cohen's music, as both sang their songs in Spanish. Martha also sang in English. Howard Tate's other song of the evening, "Tower Of Song", was another highlight - I absolutely loved his soulful falsettos. I did not know any of the two songs chosen by Jackson Browne, and maybe that is why I was less impressed with those.

Prior to their brilliant pairing on "Anthem", Julie and Perla had their equally great solo moments. I particularly liked Perla's "Bird On A Wire".

Perla Batalla

Julie Christensen

The house band was lead by guitar maestro Bill Frisell. Additional instrumental backup was provided string wizard Greg Leisz, percussionist Debra Dobkin, drummer Don Heffington, bassists Kevin McCormick and Don Was, pianist Karen Hammack, among others.

Bill Frisell

My secret hope of having Leonard Cohen himself make an unannounced appearance did not materialize, but even so, it was an unforgettable evening.

UCLA's Royce Hall

Concert #597 - Jill Sobule & John Doe at McCabe's Guitar Shop (July 9, 2011)

This was the second of two sold-out shows at McCabe's featuring the unlikely pairing of two artists from different generations and different musical backgrounds. Yet Jill Sobule and John Doe got along just fine, as if they had been playing together for a lifetime. It almost felt like watching two old friends jamming in a living room, that's how relaxed and comfortable with each other they appeared to be. It's always the case: when the performers are having fun, so is the audience, and we all had a lot of fun, with great songs and good humor that just kept coming and coming.

The stage, photographed just before the show

Frequently alternating between various stringed instruments, both acoustic and electric, Jill and John played songs from "A Day At The Pass", their current joint album, as well as some of their older material. Jill was in perfect vocal shape and I was delighted to once again hear "Where Is Bobbie Gentry", "Good Life", "Mexican Wrestler" and "San Francisco", among her other songs. Watching her intense delivery from my front-row seat was pure joy - if you have not seen Jill live, you don't know what you're missing. John Doe was equally good. I enjoyed all of his new material, but what I liked the best was his punk-ish delivery of "White Girl", from his days with X.

I typically don't like the use of profanities on stage, certainly not by female performers, but Jill's use of the F-word in her "We Want Our America Back" was nothing short of hilarious.

Throughout the evening, Jill and John were accompanied by bassist Dave Carpenter. Toward the end of the show, local songstress Cindy Wasserman popped in for a song.

What? No roadies? Jill and John setting up before the show.

The set list

Jill Sobule and John Doe at McCabe's (July 9, 2011)

The show was opened by singers Sean Wheleer & Zander Schloss, with the latter doubling up as an able multi-instrumentalist. Although somewhat dissimilar in terms of their musical backgrounds, Sean and Zander combined well to play a listenable set of self-penned songs. Zander's use of the bouzouki added more color to their set.

All-in-all, it was yet another great evening of music at McCabe's.

Alan Kanter (left) and Wayne Griffith, with a combined 75 years of sound engineering experience at McCabe's

Window poster at McCabe's

Concert #530 - Erin McKeown & Jill Sobule at McCabe's Guitar Shop (November 20, 2009)

Erin McKeown

Was this a doubleheader, with Jill Sobule and Erin McKeown enjoying "equal billing" status, or was Jill the opening act for the headlining Erin? Hard to tell and it didn't matter. Fact is that Jill came out first, played a set of decent length, then Erin took over after the intermission. But they were also each other's guests, so they ended up spending quite a bit of time together on the stage.

Jill Sobule

The show was part of their national tour jokingly named "The Clash Of The Legends", which came complete with a poster billing Jill and Erin as "The Western Menace Of Colorado" and "The Northeast Bomber Of Massachusetts", respectively. My friend Steve, a long-time Jill Sobule fan, was at McCabe's as well, we often coordinate our ticket purchases there.

Jill's set included "Where Is Bobbie Gentry" and "A Good Life", my favorite two Jill songs. As always, she played acoustic. Erin writes good songs and knows how to deliver them, trouble is I can't recall any titles. There was plenty of good humor and lots of great music.

The highlight of the evening was ... me! Here's what happened: during the encore, when Jill and Erin were getting ready to sing Neil Diamond's "They're Coming To America", Jill asked for someone to hold up the lyrics sheet, for them to see. Well, I was sitting directly in front of her, so the next thing I knew, I was part of the show!
 

Yours Truly helping out with the lyrics sheet

After the show, both Jill and Erin spent some time with their fans, which gave Steve and I the opportunity to pose together with Jill.

Jill and Steve

After the show, with Jill