It hasn't happened yet. Though I've received a few dashed-off demos from
quick-thinking and fast-working artists on the awful subject of September 11,
the more thoughtful and slow-footed among you haven't come through with songs
along those lines. Do me a favor and resist the temptation to write about the
event. I know, I know, occasions like that strike profound emotions in
everybody, not the least of which are songwriters, and some creative folks like
to take advantage of that mood when it hits. But it's so hard to address an
issue like the 11th with any kind of grace and dignity, and certainly with a
decent amount of poetic elan, enough to make it sufficiently artistic. If it's
irresistible for you to write a song or a lyric that hinges on the attack, well
-- I understand doing it for therapy's sake. But keep it under your hat.
There's no way yet for us to truly know how deeply an event like this one will
effect us. So any kind of creative outpouring will sound naïve at best.
Let's wait and see what the genuine emotional fallout of the occurrence will
be, what life will truly be like, before we start singing songs about it.
Delphine: We're Sleeping Better Now (Wishing Tree)
Are we sleeping better now? It's hard to tell if this is a prophetic title, or
just badly timed. Nightmares of exploding airplanes and thick black clouds
chasing throngs of people have plagued our sleep the past several weeks. But
hopefully they've ebbed a bit lately. So the question remains, "Are we are
sleeping better?" If not, Delphine, aka Todd Belcher, might be a timely
antidote.
Not that all of Belcher's material is conducive to nocturnal bliss. Where some
tunes like the opening "Headaches" is lovely, sad-eyed rock, "Swear That I
Swear," a sneaky hidden track and the disc's musical highlight, rages in the
ebb 'n' flow style of Nirvana. Belcher, from Providence, takes a few other cues
from Cobain as well, including his attention to melodic detail on songs like
"First Gear" and "March 126," and his ragged guitar styles. But the essence of
Delphine lies in Belcher's own intimate, rather abstract songwriting. He allows
his voice, guitar, and words to take on lives of their own, while echo, subtle
rhythms, and gentle feedback wash over the songs unabated. In doing so, the EP
unfolds with equal subtlety, as peals of noise -- quiet and cacophonous,
graceful and unkempt -- spin off the core like sparks from a grindstone. "Shut
your eyes and listen," Belcher sings midway through the disc. I hear and I
obey.
Serena Andrews: Who's My Mr. Kitty? (Doubleseven Records)
Serena Andrews moved to Providence from Bangor, Maine back in 1997 and has
been hard at work ever since. She has released a six-song live album called
Table Scraps and now Who's My Mr. Kitty?, a fully produced
full-length disc that begins to reveal just how genuine a performer Andrews
truly is. Powered by piano, some memorable melodies, and plentiful attitude,
Andrews spans the gap that bridges Ben Folds and Tori Amos. Songs like the
galloping "Basin" and the extended "Jigsaw" find Andrews experimenting with
song structure and various other sonic possibilities. She also likes playing a
little with her voice. On the ambitious and atmospheric "Fireworks" her voice
attempts to reach the crackling heights of Billie Holiday with mixed results.
On the lo-fi blippity-synth gem "Fly South," she recalls the fabulous Kate Bush
without the studio wizardry. When all is said and done, Andrews impresses with
her utter courage and audacity. As she veers from hip-hop to Tin Pan Alley to
pop and ambient, you begin to feel the pulsating heart at the center of her
artistry. There's no telling where she'll end up, but that's part of the
excitement of Serena Andrews.
The John Harrison Trio:Roman Sun (Whaling City Sound)
The New Bedford-based imprint Whaling City Sound continues its impressive
string of world-class jazz releases with Roman Sun. In an attempt to
introduce the rich musical heritage of southeastern Massachusetts to a broader,
more sophisticated jazz audience, the ambitious new organization run by Neal
Weiss has introduced jazz fans to some great performances in a very short time.
John Harrison's gorgeous performance on Roman Sun keeps that string of
striking music alive.
Accompanied by Peter Kontrimas on acoustic bass and drummer Alan Hall,
Harrison basks in the warmth of his band's full, rich sound and instrumental
dexterity on Roman Sun. The flourishes on the nearly seven-minute Steve
Kuhn epic "Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers" are graceful as Harrison and his
partners paint a dazzling piano canvas.
Produced by Harrison and Weiss at PBS Studios, the record features Harrison's
effervescent playing at its core. When he turns Monk's introverted
"Rhythm-A-Ning" into an all-out uptempo romp, complete with Hall's slick drum
interval, you know the bandleader has the gift of interpretation down. On a
cover of Jerome Kern's classic "The Way You Look Tonight," Harrison turns a
poignant tune into a jaunty trip across the dance floor, bolstered by
Kontrimas' light-stepping bass and Hall's tasteful restraint. On Harrison's
rendition of the Lins/Martins work "Velas," he demonstrates how effortlessly he
and his band venture into the jazz delicacies of a Latin beat, while the
original "Roman Sun" portrays Harrison as a composer with a flair for drama.
Roman Sun is full of terrific moments. At the hands of such gifted players,
each chestnut holds the potential of great surprise and heartwarming emotion.
WANDERING EYE. Let's hear it for Saturday night in Providence. Rock 'n'
roll, baby -- it's all over the city, and it should provide lazy potatoes with
plenty of motivation to hit the streets and bop around for a few noisy hours.
Many local scenesters are probably thinking they'll have to split their time on
Saturday between the State of Corruption/Slugworth/Sea Monkey
Stew lineup at the Green Room, and Freakshow's record release party
for their new CD Live Is Dead with C60 and Dragon String
at the Met. Too bad they're both going down the same night, 'cuz I know these
guys are buds. Spreadin' the love should have been the order of the day. Maybe
next time. There are two more terrific shows on that same night. The
Providence Riots will salute you with their firebranded groove machine
at One Up, while the Itchies and the Downbeat 5 will christen the
stage at Jake's on Richmond Street. They just started putting shows on there
and it might be a good time for a bunch of folks to attend and let them know
it's a good idea -- a damn good idea, in fact. We need more venues and
Jake's is game. They have good suds and grub, too.
There will be no suds and very little grub at Stone Soup this weekend (do
cookies count?), but there will be some sizzle nonetheless when area
bluegrass heroes Northern Lights take the stage. They have been and
still are one of the most accomplished bands in the bluegrass/new grass scene
to date. The gig's at the Slater Mill Historic Site (67 Roosevelt Avenue, in
downtown Pawtucket). The tix are $10.
E-mail me with music news at b_gulla@yahoo.com.
Issue Date: October 19 - 25, 2001
