People at Places

Holy crap, I am terrible at doing this in any kind of timely fashion. I guess it's another catch-up post, this time.


Mercy Meadows and Baby G and the Mule at Cafe 9 - 10/24/06

With both of these bands, I had some familiarity with the players; either friendship or just seeing them around, but in neither case was I prepared for the quality of the performance.
I didn't know anything about Mercy Meadows prior to the show. I was really pleased with the straight country. It was really tight and well put together. Better than I'd expect in new england. Her voice reminded me a bit of Emmylou Harris or maybe sometimes Loretta Lynn.
I know Leila Crockett from around the city - front row, center at the Dangler's shows or sitting on the stoop. I knew she was a singer, but I didn't know the details. I was absolutely blown away. Her voice has a depth and gravity unmatched by any of the other singers around. If her voice doesn't break your heart, you don't have one. The songs are sort of folky, sort of bluesy, sort of jazzy, but really ididosyncratic. She played with Kriss and Wayne from the Danglers and a fiddle player I don't know. But really, she's the star.

Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldangelmidnight/sets/72157594358924733/

etc
http://www.myspace.com/mercymeadows
http://www.myspace.com/misraca



Big Fat Combo and The Manchurians at Cafe 9 - 10/27/06


Big Fat Combo are a straightforward rock and roll band. Not pushing any envelopes or challenging anyone's ideas about anything. Their weak point is the singer. They had two guest singers during this performance, a woman and the guy from Lost Generation. I don't know Lost Generation, but I guess they're a big deal. The highlight was the cover of I Wanna Be Your Dog - it was good until Lost Gen. guy turned it into some kind of preachy pseudopolitical rant.
The Manchurians are a New Haven institution. They do solid r+b rock. It's what I imagine when anyone says pub rock. Their claim to fame is that Buddy Guy played one of their songs.

Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldangelmidnight/sets/72157594358874058/

etc
http://www.myspace.com/bigfatcombo
http://www.thinmanmusic.net/manchurians.html



Kimono Draggin' at Rudy's - 10/31/06

I couldn't think of anything better than halloween with Kimono Draggin'. Well-costumed and in good spirits, this was the kind of show I've come to expect from them. There's always some level of chaos, but that just gives it a beter energy. They played new songs and I was happy. I made the mistake of sitting directly in front of Joe's amplifier and I think I injured my ears. It was seriously painful and they rang for a couple days afterward. After that kind of damage, I couldn't stick around for Alabama Thunderpussy (the "headliners.") I knew they'd be a disappointment anyway.

Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldangelmidnight/sets/72157594359007583/

etc
http://www.myspace.com/kimonodraggin


Josephine Foster and Kath Bloom at Cafe 9 - 11/7/06

I was lucky enough to have caught Josephine Foster at Cafe 9 a couple months back and I still remember that as a magical evening, so I had to come out for her return trip.
Kath Bloom is an older post-revival folk singer. I guess her heyday was in the '70s. She's the sort where the performance is great, but the songs are kind of bad. The rest of her band was kind of annoying too. I would have preferred to see her perform solo. Also, it was election night and the guitar player was more concerned with Lamont's standings than anything else.
Josephine Foster seemed a little less confident this time around than last. It was a much smaller crowd this time. She played a lot of recent songs she wrote for a movie and mostly just played her nylon-string guitar. She only played the harp at the very end. She was joined onstage by someone named Victor; he played electric guitar. It was a good show, if not quite as sublime as the previous one.


Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldangelmidnight/sets/72157594366741569/

etc
http://www.myspace.com/josephinefosterbornheller
http://www.myspace.com/kathbloomchapter