Concert #673 - Jackshit at McCabe's Guitar Shop (April 26, 2013)

Q: Let's talk numbers. How many times have you seen Jackshit in concert?
A: This was my 29th time to see them live in concert.

Q: That's crazy, don't you think so?
A: It's only crazy from the perspective of someone who has not seen them perform. You see them once, you're hooked for life. I'm only a passionate fan, not an OCD sufferer

Q: OCD?
A: Obsessive compulsive disorder.

Q: How much variety do you find in their shows?
A: Their shows follow pretty much the same path, so I can't say that any given show is strikingly different from the one before.

Q: So what makes you want to see them so often?
A: What attracts me time and time again is their exceptional virtuosity. These guys are devilishly good. Val McCallum's guitar playing is right up there with the very best and if Dave Faragher is good enough for Elvis Costello, then he's certainly good enough for me. And there's a good reason why Pete Thomas is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: he plays the drums like few others. Put these guys together, and what you get is an exciting power trio that adds good humor and stellar song selection to their musical prowess.

Q: Last night's show came just hours after the death of George Jones. Did the band acknowledge his passing in any way?
A: Yes, they did. They played an outstanding version of "White Lightning", then later in the show, when unannounced guest Jackson Browne took the stage, they delivered "The King Is Gone", a song written by George Jones shortly after Tammy Wynette walked out on him.

Q: So Jackson Browne guested once again ...
A: Yes. He's a friend of the band, so his appearances are almost taken for granted.

Val McCallum & Jackson Browne having fun at McCabe's

Q: Any other guests?
A: Yes and no.

Q: What do you mean "yes and no", that makes no sense.
A: Let me explain. Just take a look at Val McCallum's Facebook page, the way it appeared on the day of the show:

Q: Wow, Mac Davis guesting with the band, I'm sure you were all excited. How was he?
A: He never showed up. I'm convinced this whole thing wasn't just a joke, as Val kept looking for Mac to make his entrance, but he never came. The band went on and played the four Mac Davis songs they were supposed to do together - "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me", "You're Having My Baby", "In The Ghetto" and "I Believe In Music" - when mid-way through the latter song, a man armed with a guitar joined the band. Assuming that the man was Mac Davis, the crowd exploded with enthusiasm, only to learn that they were applauding the world's first and only Mac Davis impersonator. Like everyone else, I was a bit disappointed.

Val McCallum (left), with faux Mac Davis

Q: What else did Jackson Browne sing?
A: After his tribute to George Jones, Jackson sang his own "Shaky Town", then later, when he came back for the encore, he did "Take It Easy", the monster hit he wrote for the Eagles. Jackson sounded and looked good.

Val McCallum & Jackson Browne at McCabe's

Q: Any new additions to Jackshit's long list of covers?
A: Yes. Along with two young guests, they played the Who's "My Generation".

Q: Who were the guests and how young were they?
A: Well, I don't think either of them was older than ten. Charlie Faragher replaced Pete Thomas on drums and impressed me with his much-improved drumming. The vocals were delivered by someone introduced as "Uncle Nick" and he was good, too.

"Uncle Nick" and Dave Faragher

Q: Did Jackshit have a set list?
A: Yes, and with small exceptions, they followed it.

Q:  Did the Shit Horns show up?
A: No, they didn't, and I missed them.

The set list

Q: Your overall impression?
A: As always, I had a heck of a good time and I'll be back for more.

Dave Faragher and Val McCallum chatting with friends after the show

The stage

Concert #672 - The Dustbowl Revival at the Claremont Folk Music Center (April 20, 2013)

Q: Was this your fourth time to see the band in just about one year's time?
A: Indeed. I first saw them perform at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica in March 2012 and, right there and then, I became a huge fan.

Q: Can you say a few words about last night's venue?
A: Claremont's Folk Music Center is a jewel of a store and occasional concert venue. The place is owned by Ben Harper, who has kept the store's old-school look pretty much intact.

Q: Great stores don't necessarily make for equally great concert venues, do they?
A: Some do, some don't. Hollywood's Amoeba Records is a fabulous store, but not the best place to see a concert, not even a free one. McCabe's excels in both categories, mostly thanks to the availability of their back room, where a proper stage could be built and a decent number of seats can be placed.

Q: So how's the Folk Music Center?
A: They only have one room, so their options are limited. Located in the far left corner of the store, their stage is quite small and it only rises six or seven inches above the floor level. This means that  most spectators will not have an unobstructed view of the performers.

Q: How was the sound?
A: Quite good, there were no problems at all with the sound.

The Folk Music Center (Claremont, California)

The stage

Q: So how many people showed up last night?
A: Seventy-five, which is the full capacity of the room. My impression was that many of the spectators came to see the Wild Reeds, the opening act, a band with strong local connections. Sadly, some of their fans left during the intermission, so there were a few empty seats when the headliners took the stage.

Q: With only about seventy-five tickets sold, the artists did not make a financial killing, did they?
A: Not at all. Tickets were priced at the mystifyingly low amount of ten bucks each. You do the math. Ten bucks is a ridiculously low amount. Ten bucks won't even get your car parked at most LA concert venues.

Q: Let's talk about the Dustbowl Revival. How were they?
A: The short answer is "they were great". But there's more to it. Somewhat understandably, they brought to Claremont a stripped-down version of the band that I saw in action in Santa Monica and Pasadena. I did miss some of the absentees, particularly the three-piece brass section, a key part of the overall sound of the band. But it wasn't all bad: instead of a full brass section, we got to enjoy Ron Sewer's stellar trumpet playing. Vocalist Caitlin Doyle did not appear either, but her replacement, Kate Nicholsen, was equally good, I really liked her vocals on "Riverboat Queen". 

Q: What was the band's line-up?
A: Last night's incarnation of the band was a septet, as in a group of seven players:

Zach Lupetin (vocals, acoustic guitar, kazoo, etc.)

Vance Connor (fiddle)

Daniel Mark (mandolin)

Kate Nicholsen (vocals)

Austin Nicholsen (upright bass)

Ron Sewer (trumpet)

Josh Heffernan (drums)

The Dustbowl Revival in Claremont

Q: So how did the absence of the brass section affect the show?
A: That's easy to answer: the band simply stayed away from the brass-heavy songs of their repertoire, so there was no "Dan's Jam", no "Western Passage", no "Lowdown Blues" and no "Marching On". Instead, the band focused on their brand new album, "Carry Me Home" and that wasn't a bad thing at all.

Q:What songs did they play from the new album?
A: Quite a few: "John The Revelator", "New River Train", "Soldier's Joy", "Swing Low", Shine" and "Riverboat Queen". I liked everything they played from the new album.

Q: Any other songs worth mentioning?
A: Well, they played a total of twelve mostly uptempo songs, they all sounded good, especially "Early In The Morning", "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well" and "Ain't Nobody Gonna Bury Me", although this may not be the correct title.

Left to right: Ron, Kate, Zach, Daniel & Vance at the Folk Music Center

Q: Your overall impression of last night's concert?
A: Well, it took me a couple of songs to get used to the smaller size of the band, but pretty soon their infectious music grabbed me and never let me go. I could definitely call myself a satisfied customer. Whether their sound was bluesy, jazzy or folksy, the band sounded great last night and I enjoyed those few blistering trumpet, fiddle and mandolin solos. The whole concert was exceptionally well paced from start to finish. Zach Lupetin, the leader of the band, is a very special artist. He deserves kudos for his soulful singing, incredible songwriting, clever production and most of all, for having assembled such a great group of talented musicians. The Dustbowl Revival is a truly amazing band that's probably not too far from getting the national recognition they so richly deserve.

Q: The best song of the evening?
A: "Swing Low", the song that wrapped up the evening, performed with the help of the Wild Reeds. Great harmonies.

Q: A few words about the Wild Reeds?
A: It was my first exposure to the music of the trio. There are many other acts out there that are young and talented, but the Wild Reeds possess three assets that one day could bring them wider success: their voices. They also seem to be an inventive bunch, as there was plenty of variety in their forty-minute long set.

The Wild Reeds at the Folk Music Center in Claremont

Q: Did you bring a few friends to attend the concert?
A: Yes. I bought twelve tickets that went to some of my friends. Most of them were unfamiliar with the Dustbowl Revival.

Q: So what did the newbies tell you after the concert?
A: They all loved the show, without exception. They all want to see them again.

Q: And you?
A: I will continue to follow the band and the next time they play McCabe's, I will show up with a larger group.

The Dustbowl Revival setting up for the show

The crowd in front of the Folk Music Center

John and Bob, two of my friends

Guitars on the wall at the Folk Music Center

Concert tickets

Concert #671 - Venice at McCabe's Guitar Shop (April 12, 2013)

Q: Was this your first time to see Venice in concert?
A: First time, indeed.

Q: How come? These guys have quite a following and have you seen the list of musicians they have played with?
A: Yes, I have, and I'm impressed, but somehow the band managed to stay below my radar for all these years. There's nothing wrong with my radar, but it's just impossible to be on top of absolutely everything that's good in the world of music. 

Q: In maximum four words, how was the show?
A: I can't answer in four words.

Q: Why's that?
A: Because last night's show was both boring and engaging. Boring in the beginning and totally engaging toward the end.

Q: Care to elaborate?
A: Well, first let me set the stage. Friday night concerts are tough for me. I'm usually tired after a long week in the office, then it takes me more than an hour to get to McCabe's, so when the show finally starts, I'm in a state of near-collapse. At that point, what I need is a shot in the arm delivered by a high-energy artist who dazzles me with music, wit and most of all, a fast-paced performance.

Q: So you didn't get that last night, did you?
A: Not in the beginning. When we walked in, we saw on the stage four chairs that weren't suggesting anything involving high energy.

The stage

Q: Tell me more.
A: The four Lennons, Kipp, Mark, Michael and Pat, came out to a rousing reception, complete with screams of "We love you". They opened with a few slow-ish song, and so it went for a while. To these ears, the show just wasn't taking off and after thirty minutes or so, I felt I'd be in for a long night.

Q: Are you saying they were bad?
A: Not at all. Their voices were great, the harmonies were there, but the music just didn't grab me. The songs, while nicely crafted, carried no punch and the fact that they were all new to me did not help matters. "The Point" was the only song from the first half of the show that caught my attention.

Q: But then something changed, didn't it?
A: Midway through the show, all of a sudden, things changed for me, even though the band kept doing what they had been doing. Songs like "For A Kiss", "The Only Love I Had" and "Fingers Crossed" managed to win me over and from that point on, I found the show quite entertaining and by the time they played the set-ending "Think Again", I was clapping along with everybody else.

The set list

Q: Did you like the voices of the Lennons?
A: The answer is yes. I liked both lead vocalists, Kipp and Mark, and the harmonies of the band were good, too.

Q: Did the band members play their usual roles?
A: Yes. They all sang, with Kipp and Mark handling the lead vocal duties. Pat and Michael played a few different acoustic guitars. Michael also played the piano.

Q: How about their personalities?
A: They all seemed to be fun to be around. Their stage banter appeared to be unscripted and was not excessive.

Mark & Kipp Lennon at McCabe's

Pat & Mark Lennon at McCabe's

Q: Did they do any covers of famous songs?
A: No, and I definitely could have used hearing a familiar tune or two. I think they wrote all the songs they played last night, with the exception of "When I'm Gone", a brand new Mark Harris composition. Mark was there last night, he played bass and made a good impression on me. 

Q: The best song of the evening?
A: My vote goes for the infectious "One More Song", one of the best encore numbers you'll ever hear, a song that is guaranteed to produce a standing ovation.

Q: Any other musician on stage with the band?
A: Percussionist Rich Mangicaro completed the band's rhythm section. He was good. 

Kipp & Michael Lennon (with Mark Harris in the background)

Mark (seated) and Kipp at the end of the show

Q: Did the show sell out?
A: Yes, it sold out weeks before the show. There was a late show as well, also a sell-out.

Q: Can you give me one final assessment of the show?
A: Overall, I'm glad I went to see Venice. I got to see an internationally known band with an exceptional resume. And how often do I get to see so much talent in a single family? It just happened that I was in the mood for some harder-hitting music and it took me some time to accept the softer edges of their music.

The merch table

"When I'm Gone" - Lyrics sheet

Poster in the window 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 #669 - Syd Straw at McCabe's Guitar Shop (April 5, 2013)

Here's a brief concert review, written in Q&A style:

Q: Have you seen Syd Straw before?
A: Yes. Eight times. Three times in a headlining role, five times as someone's guest.

Q: When did you first see her?
A:  Exactly ten years ago, also at McCabe's. She blew me away then, been a fan ever since.

Q: Was last night's show sold out?
A: It looked like a sellout. Maybe a couple of empty seats in the back.

Q: Was there an opening act?
A: No. 

Q: Your overall impression?
A: Very favorable. It was a highly entertaining show, without a single minute of boredom.

Syd Straw at McCabe's

Syd Straw and Willie Aron at McCabe's

Q: How was Syd's voice?
A:  Never better. I was amazed by the expressiveness and precision of her voice. 

Q: Were her songs easy to sing?
A: Not at all. Most of her song require great vocal skills and Syd delivered flawlessly.

Q: Compared to ten years ago, did she sound better or worse?
A: Definitely better. Syd is one of those vocalists who just keep getting better with age.

Q: Syd is known for bringing unannounced guests along. Were there any last night?
A: Three guests: Dave Alvin, Cindy Lee Berryhill and Mark Boone, Jr.

Q: Was that Mark Boone, the actor?
A: Yes. He played guitar on "You Had Your Chance", a song he wrote with Syd for the late Vic Chesnutt.

Syd Straw and Mark Boone, Jr. at McCabe's

Q: What about Dave Alvin?
A: Well, Dave Alvin was Dave Alvin. Great voice, fantastic guitar playing, good humor.

Q: Did Dave play acoustic or electric?
A: Electric, and it was great.

Syd Straw & Dave Alvin at McCabe's

Syd Straw & Dave Alvin at McCabe's

 Q: Syd always talks a lot on stage. Did she go overboard last night?
A: I wouldn't say that she went overboard, but there was a lot of talk, that's for sure.
 
Q: Was she funny?
A: Yes. She is a genuinely funny lady, capable of putting a humorous spin even on tragic events.

Q: Did she perform solo?
A: Except for the two opening songs, Syd played with a band.

Q: Who were the band members?
A:   - Robert Lloyd (mandolin, piano, banjo, accordion) (well-known session player)
       - Willie Aron (electric & acoustic guitar, backup vocals) (session player)
       - Ed Marshall (ukulele)

       - Severo (bass guitar) 

Q: How was the band?
A: The band was great. No flashy solos, but one could tell that all musicians were top-notch.

Q: Who's Severo, the bass player?
A: He is a member of the Smithereens.

Severo Jornacion

Q: And who's Ed Marshall?
A: He plays with the Ooks of Hazzard. 

Q: Any interaction between Syd and the band?
A: Lots of humorous interaction, with Willie Aron in particular laughing his head off. 

Q: How was Cindy Lee?
A: She was quite good. Much better than the first time I saw her last year.

Cindy Lee Berryhill, with son Alexander, at McCabe's

Q: What songs did Syd sing?
A: Most songs came from "Pink Velour", her most recent CD. The ones I remember are "Marry Me", "About To Forget", "My Ship Comes In", "Pink Velour" and "Unraveling".

Q: Did Syd sing any of her "oldies"?
A: Yes, she sang "Golden Dreams" and "Love, And The Lack Of It".

Q: Did she also do "CBGB's"?
A: Sadly, the answer is no.

Q: Any cover songs?
A: A few. Among them, Warren Zevon's "Mutineer".

Q: The show highlights?
A: Syd's voice. Also Syd and Dave Alvin together.

Q: What did she sing with Dave Alvin?
A: They sang three songs together. The first one was "Why Not Me", from the repertoire of the Judds.

Q: The second one?
A: The second song was a powerful rendition of "The Stranger I Live With", an outstanding Syd Straw composition that appears on "Pink Velour". 

Q: And the third one?
A: The third one was "What Am I Worth", the George Jones classic, recorded two decades ago by Dave and Syd for Dave's "King Of California" album. 

Q: Would you want to see Syd Straw again?
A: Absolutely. In a heartbeat.

Syd Straw's informal set list

"Why Not Me" (Dave Alvin's lyrics sheet)

The stage

Syd Straw's guitar

Concert poster