The cheery lady selling tickets at Mississippi Studios refused to check my ID for the guest list under the assumption that “friends of Laura Gibson aren’t liars.” It gave me a warm feeling to be trusted by a perfect stranger, a feeling that aligned well with the resulting mood of a night brought to life by fragile sounds from honest people.
With violins and whispery vocals, Rauelsson lulled the shivers of a crowd freshly chilled from the rain outside. Tranquil fans smartly dressed in scarves and pea coats scattered themselves on the floor by the stage, attentive and still like a classroom full of students mesmerized by the gorgeous new substitute teacher.
Musee Mecanique did nothing to shake the crowd from their paralyzed state of wonder. The two members, Sean and Micah, changed instruments between almost every song, forming an impressive two-man band in contrast to the usual five. I was in a state of amazement myself, so it didn’t surprise me when after their second song Micah broke the silence and said, “There are too many people in this room to be so quiet.” To which the crowd responded with . . . yet more silence.
Between the third and fourth song, someone from the crowd woke from their dream state and shouted, “Oh my god!” While another urged Micah, “Tell a joke!”
He declined to tell a joke just then, but did share a bit of knowledge about his Spanish lesson from Rauelsson’s Raúl Pastor Medall:
Micah: “Raúl taught me a word in Spanish while we were backstage. Yo me encantó!”
Loudmouthed crowd member: “That means you enchant yourself!”
Micah: “Oh, someone’s messin’ with me, then.”
After a couple amusing stories that passed as jokes, and one too many spells cast on the audience with their magical accordions, xylophones, and melodicas, country princess Laura Gibson graced the stage: golden hair tumbling down over an ivory vintage dress hovering ghost-like over dark brown tights which plunged dramatically into a pair of white, 1970’s nursing shoes.
Before launching into “Hands in Pockets,” Laura joked in a notch above a whisper, “I realize it’s a rainy night and swine flu is on the rampage. I just came from Japan and everyone on the subway has those masks. So, anyone who feels a cough coming on, if you could move to one side of the room, and if you feel healthy, move to the opposite side. Uh, thanks.”
Micah remained on stage, pulling a bow along edges of cymbals and occasionally breaking out the musical saw for some eerie atmospheric wobbles.
Micah and Sean from Musee Mecanique both played melodicas (keyboards apparently designed after elephants) while Micah threw in some banjo plucking during “Come by Storm.” The bluegrass tinges set the stage nicely for the next song; a Mississippi John Hurt cover called “Make Me a Palette on the Floor.”
The musical saw made a second appearance for “Where Have All Your Good Words Gone?”, a song worth hearing, or watching for sure.
Toward the end of the set, Gibson announces a song she and Sean had collaborated on and had yet to play live called “Sky and Sword.” Esopus magazine invited her to record a song with the criteria that it be based on one of Nostradamus’ prophecies. Foot-stomping and clapping abounded for this one, and Gibson surprised the audience with her ability to project her voice further than the usual soft croon.
Closing the set with her upbeat, Feist-like ditty, “Spirited” from the new record Beasts of Season, Gibson sent the crowd, starry-eyed, twitterpated, and insulated by warm poetic melodies, back into the chilly Portland rain.
Justin Townes Earle + Joe Pug - 2/14
Doug Fir Lounge
The Magnetic Fields - 2/21
Aladdin Theatre
The Magnetic Fields - 2/22
Aladdin Theatre
The Magnetic Fields - 2/23
Aladdin Theatre
The Magnetic Fields - 2/24
Aladdin Theatre
El Perro Del Mar - 2/28
Doug Fir Lounge
Basia Bulat - 3/8
Mississippi Studios
Avey Tare was in attendance, along with Angel from Dirty Projectors.
by David on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 08.35 pm from the entry: Atlas Sound + Neon Indian - E&L Auditorium (New York, NY; Feb. 4, 2010)
Good catch, oh masked marvel.
by Ari Sommer on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 02.42 pm from the entry: St Vincent + Wildbirds and Peacedrums - Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR; Feb. 6, 2010)
St. Sincent...ha.
by anonymous on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 02.04 pm from the entry: St Vincent + Wildbirds and Peacedrums - Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR; Feb. 6, 2010)
Aan was amazing.
by jarrod on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 01.02 pm from the entry: Blue Horns + Morning Teleportation + Aan - Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR Jan. 30, 2010)
I’d like to clarify that for this show they cut off the back half of Neumo’s floor with a curtain and had the upstairs bar closed. It made Neumo’s obviously seem much smaller than it is. Unfortunately, now having seen Neumo’s fully open at another show I can say that this show was very empty. Still White Denim and Brazos rocked.
by Chris on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 01.57 am from the entry: White Denim + Brazos - Neumos (Seattle, WA; Jan. 24, 2010)
I agree, it’s very good. Way to deflate their balloon.
by colin on Mon Feb 8, 2010 at 01.03 am from the entry: Third Annual Portland Music Awards - Crystal Ballroom (Portland, OR; Jan. 28, 2010)
Love the photos. And that “Walkabout” song is the drugs.
by Beth Doreian on Sun Feb 7, 2010 at 01.14 pm from the entry: Atlas Sound + Neon Indian - E&L Auditorium (New York, NY; Feb. 4, 2010)
