i have been a bad, bad local correspondent by not keeping up this blog. but last night inspired me to write. it was an absolutely extraordinary LC show!
JF Robitaille
i met JF at a bar4 open mic and immediately asked him to play a set. during open mic it's crazy in bar4, and loud, and i tend to get a little drunk. the caliber of musicians playing the open mic is just ridiculous, so for someone to stand out amidst all that noise, drinking, and talent... well, it takes a lot.
last night i got to hear JF play a whole set in a room that was considerably less distracting. what immediately struck me was his subtle use of language and quiet, confident delivery. while i listened i felt that each song was focused, like a camera lens allowing me to get a glimpse of the world as seen through his eyes- for a moment. and it was beautiful.
i am now a devoted fan...
Andy Mac
it is always a pleasure to see andy play. he was sick last night, but he has one bad (in the good way) set of pipes. i WISH i could sound that good when i'm sick. his songs always make me smile and i was bopping right along with him. also lusting after his gorgeous, gorgeous guitar. i have a thing about jumbos... ok, maybe i wanna rephrase that.
at this point some of Joe and Andy's fans from Pennsylvania rolled in. they'd come out all that way to hang at bar4 and listen to the boys play. we bought 'em a round on the bar. they were the most ENTHUSIASTIC audience members i have ever witnessed and it was so freaking sweet. the energy coming from those 3 was just setting the whole room off.
Bryan Dunn
quick second for jessi to brag. i booked bryan and andy on an LC show awhile back. they met, hit it off, and now i try to bill them together whenever possible. bryan has such a great voice. the first time i heard him on myspace i started begging him to come play shows for me. his whole set was awesome. i couldn't help but sing along.
things really started gettting crazy though, when andy jumped up on a mic and began beatboxing. it was OVER THE TOP!!! the PA crew was going nuts. after that it was yells of "andy, more beatbox! more beatbox!" just when i thought things couldn't possibly get any more outta control, bryan and andy busted out a cover of "kiss" by prince. that was it! it was so crazy i almost fell off my chair. everyone in the whole place was going nuts! many calls of "sweet jesus" from me.
Joe Wilson and Andy Badac
i keep telling joe and andy i wake up with "steady hands" in my head in the morning. it's such a killer song. this was andy's first time playing at bar4 and the first time these two have played "steady hands" live. so that alone made it a landmark night. the blend between joe and andy's voices is just incredible. i could hardly keep still. meanwhile one of the PA guys was going into some kind of ecstatic frenzy, screaming, knee-slapping, falling all over the couch, calling joe and andy's names, calling for a cover of "hallelujah." calling so loud that the cops came. sweet jesus! a regular walked by and said, "is it ok that i'm a little bit in love with joe right now?" and i said, "of course it is. EVERYONE in here is a little bit in love with joe."
andy writes these incredibly singable, catchy tunes. especially "steady hands." i've listened to that song way too many times. it just makes me happy.
joe is in every way an inspiration to me to work harder and do more. he has built a strong, loyal fan base all on his own with a combination of talent, brains, and hard work. meanwhile, he's getting ready to go out on a tour of the US and completing a new album. i'd be completely and totally jealous if he didn't so completely deserve it. his voice/playing/songs are freaking awesome and he will rock your face (ha!).
last thoughts
last night made me almost too happy! it was so much fun. i even managed to avoid doing shots. (well, ok, i had one shot of jameson. it's good for a sore throat.) and eventually the rain stopped. at 1:30 i put on my headphones and danced down the street alone. not drunk. just high on the Local Correspondents experience.
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