At around 11:30 Thursday night I realized something odd. Aside from the music onstage, Great Scott was completely silent. Great Scott is never silent. From the dozens of shows I’ve attended there, I’ve come to accept the constant buzz of conversation as part of the concert experience. But this evening, not a single person lounged at the bar chatting with the bartender, checked out t-shirts at the merch table, or commented on the game showing on the rear flat panel. Every person in the club was packed into a semi-circle around the tiny stage watching a man with a cello.
That man was Ben Sollee. Over the past year with melophobe, I’ve seen some incredible shows, few of which have reached the power and grace of Sollee’s performance. Constantly skeptical of new entries to the overcrowded folk-singer-songwriter genre, my doubts were extinguished by the middle of the opening song "How to See the Sunrise." Sollee’s vocals were rich and soulful, containing just a hint of the Kentucky twang more noticable later in conversation. Equally impressive was his caress of Kay (his cello): a balance of finger-plucking and bow work. Sollee switched to guitar only a handful of times during the performance, and when he did the results were staggeringly beautiful.
The atmosphere in Great Scott pulsed with the lyrics of Sollee’s pieces, the set featuring many of the originals from his debut, Learning to Bend, as well as a cover of Sam Cooke’s "A Change Is Gonna Come" (also on Learning to Bend) and light-hearted snippets from Gnarls Barley’s "Crazy" and Jay-Z’s "99 Problems." Between songs, Sollee engaged the audience through minimal, casual banter. He showed a clear appreciation for the crowd’s enthusiastic response to his music which served to endear him to the attendees even more. During Sollee’s final piece, I noticed several people wiping their eyes, a sign that his music had woken something within them. In spite of my dry eyes, I, too, felt this power. Every show I see hereafter will be compared to the stunning performance by Ben Sollee and his cello.
Opening for Ben Sollee was Kim Taylor, who won over the crowd with her smoky voice and evocative storytelling. According to Taylor, she and Sollee have toured together before; no surprise, as their styles are in obvious compliment. The audience, though appreciative of Taylor’s performance, was clearly there for Sollee.
Probably johnston has wrote a excellent article for the readers and are excellent photographs and thanks for sharing your thoughts
by fake tattoo on Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 10.03 pm from the entry: The Reverend Horton Heat + Nekromantix – Wonder Ballroom (Portland, OR; Jul. 9, 2009)
ha, yes! the photogs in the front row were drooling throughout the entire set…
by chris on Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 01.05 pm from the entry: Washed Out + Small Black - Mercury Lounge (New York, NY; Mar. 7, 2010)
nice pics Chris. Don’t you love it when the artist brings some cool light. It’s a bunch of low hanging fruit after that.
by colin on Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 12.53 pm from the entry: Washed Out + Small Black - Mercury Lounge (New York, NY; Mar. 7, 2010)
WOMP WOMP WOMP WOMP WOMP
by BASSHEAD on Tue Mar 9, 2010 at 04.02 pm from the entry: Ginuwine's "Pony" Deconstructed Through Dubstep (Remix)
James,
E-mail me: info@jaredfroiland.com
Thanks!
by Jared Froiland on Tue Mar 9, 2010 at 12.37 am from the entry: State Radio - Showbox (Seattle, WA; Jan.19, 2010)
Check out a sick interview back\slash Magazine did with LMFAO about how they blew up in a down economy, the struggles of entrepreneurship, and getting high.
Here is the link: http://www.backslashonline.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=317:lmfao-entrepreneurship-interview&Itemid=56
by Mike McComack on Mon Mar 8, 2010 at 10.24 pm from the entry: Photo Feature! Black Eyed Peas + Ludacris + LMFAO - TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA; Feb. 26, 2010)
Life was better in the 909
by ari on Mon Mar 8, 2010 at 10.21 pm from the entry: 3 songs off Lupe's new record unveiled in Claremont, CA
Wow. Maybe I should have gone!
I’m so jealous. Been meaning to see Ben Sollee for awhile.