Live Music Log, December 2017

12 2 17 BRAWLERS, BAWLERS AND BASTARDS:  3RD ANNUAL TOM WAITS TRIBUTE NIGHT featuring Buck Merill, Nate Hartmann, Chris Miroslaw, Matt Milcarek, Bob English, Mike List, Jessica in the Rainbow, Brian Koenigsknecht, Abe Savas, Chris Newman and Phantom 309, Libby DeCamp, Olivia Mainville and The Aquatic Troupe, Jack and The Bear, and Megan Dooley with the Hangdown Yer Heads   Bell's, Kalamazoo  I do not know what to write about this show, partly because I've mostly abandoned taking notes, and partly because I don't want to be the asshole who writes bad things about people.  There was a dazzling amount of talent on that stage, yet the show seemed smaller than last year.  I had a lot more fun, but a lot less of it came from the music itself.  It was an artistic success that played to about half the crowd as last year. I had people around me who liked to have me around, and I spent half the show worrying about someone I don't really know very well.  Matt Milcarek opened the festivities by semi-busking out in the hallway with his accordion, setting the enjoyably strange tone. Dooley played with a full band of ringers, including Brandon and Adam from Jack and the Bear, Bleu from the Troupe, Abe Savas, Matt, Chris Miroslaw from Treading Bleu, and Jarad Selner from Saxsquatch and Bridge Band.  I can not remember what anyone played, baaad blogger....other than Brian Koenigsknecht, who did several songs from The Heart Of Saturday Night album, in fully convincing Waits-in-71 drag.  Musical highlight:  Jessica In The Rainbow's utterly charming "The Piano Has Been Drinking."  Bob English's monologue also scratched my itch for the absurdly sinister. Libby DeCamp is from another, more languorous planet (possibly named Romeo).  Only other thing I will say:  apparently I'm still considered attractive by some, so...yay?

12 9 17 Carrie McFerrin #12/Matthew Borr #6 Potter's, Kalamazoo  My first time at a venue outside downtown, this one at a freeway hotel way on the east side.  Easygoing, breezy, a set designed to keep the patrons eatin'.  The Wild Sparklings are no more, long live Borr and McFerrin.  Got a reprise of Redemption Night's "Fools In Love," which just tingles my damn spine.  Other friends there too, nice dinner, nice low-stakes evening out.

12 10 17 The Crane Wives #37  Kent District Library, Cascade Branch, Grand Rapids 45 days between shows seems too long, at least for the insane.  So I played hooky from work for two hours for this one.  The same concert series that sponsored Dooley in October, set up by Dan's wife Alex, this was a hugely fun all-ages daytime affair, a good way to really hear the songs without the overlay of barroom bozos.  Caleb Trask was taken out of the closet, dusted, and given a stunning reupholstery.  Brand new songs Volta and Daydreamer shine bright, new triumphs from writers who Just Keep Getting Better.

12 15 17  Carrie McFerrin #13/Matthew Borr #7  Chau Haus Schnitzel Station, Kalamazoo  I probably shouldn't do repeat shows as much as I do, in fact I am going to make an effort in 2018 to diversify the acts I go to see, but dammit these are fun people who play well and like me, so here I am again. Went to a Christmas party afterward, the first I've ever been invited to by a non-relative that I could attend.

12 16 17 Olivia Mainville & the Aquatic Troupe #14/Jack And The Bear #2/Red Rio #2 Tip Top Deluxe, Grand Rapids  This was a whole lotta fun.  I'm an auxiliary member of their Scooby gang by now, somehow, along with Olivia's parents, Barrenger, Carlton, and assorted sundry.  Red Rio, aka Alexis Brooke, played as a trio, adding muscle to her intense delivery of songs that were whisper quiet at Founders.  Like if Mia Doi Todd hooked up with the Black Keys, for a nice obscure reference.  Then a whole bus full of bozos hijacked the Tip Top, with some interminable reindeer games involving balancing balloons.  Olivia and Brandon were seething, but they all paid their cover and then split, so the disruption subsidized the show.  Olivia's set is over half unreleased material now, so much of it excellent:  need new record now plz.  Higher Ground sounds like a hit to me.  And then Jack And The Bear:  OG Style, the two east siders in residence, Evan Close on bass and Christina Nielsen on trumpet and oil can.  Also played a couple new ones, in a promising return to Technicolor.  Not technically a west Michigan band, so I'm glad they play here so much:  the scene needs their sinister amiability.  You may sell your soul, but you will be shown a good time along the way.

12 22 17 Darcy Wilkin #9 Webster's, Kalamazoo

12 22 17  The Crane Wives #38/Olivia Mainville & The Aquatic Troupe #15  Bell's, Kalamazoo  Just about everyone I have met in the last two years was within a few blocks of each other this night.  It was a hard decision on where to go, but I chose the show without Christmas music (bleah).  At Webster's, the schmancy little room inside the Radisson Hotel, a killer lineup of Darcy, Matthew Borr, Dooley, and Matt Milcarek were doing a Christmas thing. (Carrie McFerrin was out sick.)  I only had time to catch Darcy, who gave her melancholy spin to the season, with "Christmas In Prison" and an Emmet Otter tune, along with a preview of the bonkers Rankin-Bass CFG show.  Then I hiked over to Bell's and never stopped grinning.  The Troupe were Bleu-less, as he was spending the holiday with family in the frozen north, but the three piece sound was good: like the duo shows with added Adam drums, nice relaxed takes on my favorite damn songs.  Crowd especially responded to the Boswell Sisters cover, Everybody Loves My Baby.  I have a theory on covers:  I see them as a reward to an audience for paying attention during the originals, like, "oh good doggy, now here's a Milk Bone after you ate all your nice kibble." A well chosen, well played cover will actually help win an audience over, as they remember your tunes fitting so nicely with that one you played they know and like.  (coughbringbackToxiccoughcough).  The Crane Wives are amplified to rock now, folk music is decidedly in the rearview mirror.  The uncategorizable band is being led by the bass down the path of the devil horns.  And I am AOK with this.  Hard to resist the urge to keep elbowing Brandon (seeing them for the first time) and saying "this is good, right?  Isn't this awesome?  Pretty swell? Eh?" Daydreamer is a whole other thing: a sunshiney song like the early ones, but tempered by all the water under the bridge since then.  They never stop growing as songwriters and musicians, and I am privileged to be able to hear that progression in real time.  I did not want to go home.

12 23 17 Corn Fed Girls #2/AARON WRIGHT  Old Dog Tavern, Kalamazoo  And here is the bonkers Rankin-Bass Christmas show.  Each of the six members dressed as a character from the classic stop motion specials.  Darcy destroyed her hair to embody Hermes the elf.  Jon Campos' Yukon beard kept threatening to steal the show, as did Mike Fuerst's inflatable ostrich-between-the-legs.  (Remove the beak, presto, not a family show.)  Silly trappings, amid some seriously skillful and melancholy songs:  their originals, plus songs from the specials, plus A Holly Jolly Christmas from the opener, Aaron Wright (dressed as Burl Ives).  If you have to do Christmas music, this is the way to do it:  with tongue pressed so firmly in cheek it starts to ache.

12 30 17  A TRIBUTE TO TOM PETTY featuring May Erlewine, Max Lockwood, Karisa Wilson, Lucas Wilson, and Phil Barry  Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids  This was a must see.  Tom Petty was probably the last rock star everyone loves, with the passing of Bowie and Prince, and his early death was a damn shame.  Many many tributes popped up in the months since, but this one had a secret weapon:  Max Lockwood, leader of Big Dudee Roo, bassist to all, who organized this weenie roast as a charity benefit.  The spitting image of the man, with an eerily similar vocal range:  could call him a reincarnation if he wasn't already, you know, like 30 years old.  Other weapon, less secret:  the divine Ms. Erlewine, seen here in rare proximity to extremely amplified guitars.  Two other singers:  the powerful Karisa Wilson (oddly on vocals only:  doesn't she TEACH guitar?) and Lucas Wilson, an intense soulful fellow I couldn't place till someone mentioned he was in Sweet Japonic, a dudebro band from some years back.  Perfectly calibrated set list, great mix of massive and obscure, songs assigned to each singer with thought and care. Joe Van Acker on bass, Mike Lynch on keys, Phil Barry on extremely Campbellish guitar, and the very well named Daine Hammerle hammering away on drums.  Kicked off, perfectly, by May's sweet "Wildflowers," going right into a super punchy "American Girl" by Max.  Lucas' highlight:  a "Nightwatchman" that actually sounded BETTER than the original.  Karisa's:  the semi-obscure 2010 cut "I Should've Known It' that just MELTED FACES.  May has been playing "Learning To Fly" all year, but it lost no passion or sweetness in context. Phil took one vocal, on my all time fave "Honey Bee," and it was fuckin' glorious, footstompy fun.  Max sounded perfect on all the big ones:  "I Won't Back Down," "Last Dance With Mary Jane," encore "Running Down A Dream."  Slight surprise:  May took "You Wreck Me," and took it alllll the way.  Such a powerfully evocative singer, in folk and in the Motivational soul band, so good to see her just go for it like this.  If you weren't there, brothers and sisters, I can't help but feel a little sorry for you.

12 31 17  The Accidentals #5/The Crane Wives #39/Jake Allen #2/STEPHIE JAMES Founders, Grand Rapids  Third year in a row ringing in the new year with the Crane Wives, a tradition I will do my damnedest to maintain.  Even had a companion this time.  Founders is a very different atmosphere than the Wealthy Theatre, but in some ways it was superior:  being up front and standing meant no asses in my face for once.  (Instead I blocked the view of many others....)  Minimal jostling thanks to my tiny bodyguard.  Many tables cleared to make an unusually huge SRO section, since the Accidentals are kind of a big deal now.  Jake Allen was halfway through his set before I realized he wasn't just soundchecking. Impressive control of his guitar, including as a percussion instrument. Stephie James was marvelous:  a female Chris Isaak.  Looks like Punky Brewster, sounds like Tanya Tucker.  Her languorous, atmospheric tunes brought a welcome shot of blues to the evening.  Couldn't make out lyrics in the party atmosphere, Will Investigate Further.  The Crane Wives #39:  no less inspiring than #1.  Visibly and audibly jazzed by a big enthusiastic hometown crowd, they had a wee bit extra zing in their strings.  Front loaded with the great new songs, reaching back to favorite old ones, The Garden scorching the earth, Accidental Wives ripping out Safe Ship Harbored:  it gets no better.  Then the Accidentals, and they're great.  Tempered by the fires of grueling national tours, riding the confidence of a well-written, well-received major label album, they are not the same kids I saw exactly two years earlier.  They are kids who can do basically anything.  Did not play my favorite, Crows Feet, or their new single Earthbound:  instead gave the crowd tastes of some new tracks recorded the day before.  Memorial Day is a great sweet song.  Parking Lot is the most fun.  The End is a complete Olivia pinch, played amazingly.  In the new year I am going to strive to see more unfamiliar acts, I may have gotten too comfortable in 2017, but this was the way to end it in style.  Only regret:  wearing long johns.