Out With A Splash

Our last Acoustic Showcase performance! We ended on a high note, perhaps literally, in that we were entertained by an excellent holiday set from Random Chants, the a cappella nonet (I love using that word) we've enjoyed many times before.

All photos by Griffin "Gibby" Keevil

Suitably attired, they serenaded the capacity crowd (SRO!) with holiday songs -- an appealing mix of the sublime and the suggestive (e.g. "Silent Night" to "Santa Baby").

Beautiful harmonies, as usual. And perhaps even more well-blended and mellifluous than the last time we had the pleasure...

This group has a nice range of voices -- it appears any one of the singers can do a great solo, then smoothly join the chorus on the next song (or even stanza).

All in all, a great set.

We had a happy time listening -- it put us in that warm, holiday mood...

· ~ ·

This being our last Acoustic Showcase, we had intended to cap off the evening with a "Holiday Blues Jam," featuring just a few of the many wonderful musicians we've enjoyed over the years. However, the universe, or at least the plumbing, had other ideas. Towards the close of the Chants's set, the manager very kindly informed us that there was some kind of malfunction in one of the restrooms, and the coffee shop had to be closed for the evening while they cleaned it up!

Oh well, such is life. A comic ending to a great run! We enjoyed every minute of it; hope you did too! 

· ~ ·

Every Picture Tells A Story -- Part Two

We had a great time at the Acoustic Showcase. So many great pictures, I had to divide it into two posts! Here's the second part of our evening, with more room for Griffin Keevil's photos.

· ~ ·

Robert Cedrone, guitar and vocals: with Pierre Spy, electric guitar; Noah Mendelsohn, bass. Sitting in: Rob Carlson, guitar; David Keevil, harmonica.

· ~ ·

This edition of the Acoustic Showcase was again, for me, a reminder of the warmth and affirmation of playing and listening to live music. With that in mind, our thoughts and prayers go out to ("the fabulous") Ron Chancey, who couldn't be with us last night.

We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic

And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows I want to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will flow into the mystic    

Every Picture Tells A Story -- Part One

We had a lovely time at the Acoustic Showcase last night -- lots of tremendous music performed by talented, engaging musicians (then again, most evenings at the Acoustic Showcase fit that description!). We also had a talented photographer hard at work, so instead of writing a lot about the evening, I though I'd let the pictures tell the story. 

Unfortunately, with this post I've outgrown my (free) photo storage capacity, so I'm publishing the evening in two posts -- this first post is up while I wait for my account to be upgraded to accommodate more images in the second post, which is coming soon. Photos by Griffin Keevil. Enjoy!

· ~ ·

Bethel Steele

· ~ ·

Becky and the Hit Men: Rebecca Lynch, vocals; Michael Priscella, acoustic guitar; John Coffey, bass; Brice Buchanan, electric guitar.

· ~ ·

See part two for more!