leastbest - but still one of the best
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A Night of Extremes Part II
posted Monday, 21 November 2005
After the Donovan concert I was beat complete. I had an hour and a half drive home and needed coffee. My buddy Tom told me there was a free concert for volunteers over at Kent Stage with The Dust Poets. I hadn't heard of them and after leaving KSU I decided to stop by, buy Tom a beer and head on home.
I got to Kent Stage around midnight and found Tom in the lobby. We talked about folk music, cl
awhammer banjo and how awful the Donovan concert was. While we were talking I could hear The Dust Poets performing on stage. I was going to leave but their harmonies were so tight I thought I'd listen for a minute or two. Then I caught the sounds of the mandolin and was hooked. We went into the auditorium and took a seat.
The first thing I noticed is that they were dressed right out of the thirties. The lead singer (Murray D. Evans) wore a hat and played a beautiful Larrivee mahogany guitar. Instead of a drum the drummer played a suitcase. It sounds weirder than it was and the sound was great.
The band was incredibly tight with even tighter harmonies. They had a wry sense of humor that came through easily. You could tell they were enjoying themselves on stage. At one point the lone woman (Karla Ferguson) sang a beautiful song called Lonesome. Her voice had such depth and nuance that I was stunned. Underneath her singing was a joyful playfullness that I loved. Her accordian playing was top-notch and added some great sound.
I couldn't tell what kind of mandolin Corey Ticknor was playing but his playing was perfect. His voice blended perfectly with the rest of the band and he looked like he was having a great time. The drummer, Sean McManus, was a treat to watch as he used sticks or brushes on the suitcase. He had an old metal pot attached to the suitcase that he used as a cymbal. It was surprising when he switched to clarinet and went to town. They even played a klezmer tune!
Gord Mowat played the upright bass and he was so good he was easy to overlook. It wasn't until halfway through the concert that I really noticed him. He laid down a fine bass line that kept everything moving and reminded me of Bryn Bright of the Texas Trio.
I got to Kent Stage around midnight and found Tom in the lobby. We talked about folk music, cl
awhammer banjo and how awful the Donovan concert was. While we were talking I could hear The Dust Poets performing on stage. I was going to leave but their harmonies were so tight I thought I'd listen for a minute or two. Then I caught the sounds of the mandolin and was hooked. We went into the auditorium and took a seat.The first thing I noticed is that they were dressed right out of the thirties. The lead singer (Murray D. Evans) wore a hat and played a beautiful Larrivee mahogany guitar. Instead of a drum the drummer played a suitcase. It sounds weirder than it was and the sound was great.
The band was incredibly tight with even tighter harmonies. They had a wry sense of humor that came through easily. You could tell they were enjoying themselves on stage. At one point the lone woman (Karla Ferguson) sang a beautiful song called Lonesome. Her voice had such depth and nuance that I was stunned. Underneath her singing was a joyful playfullness that I loved. Her accordian playing was top-notch and added some great sound.
I couldn't tell what kind of mandolin Corey Ticknor was playing but his playing was perfect. His voice blended perfectly with the rest of the band and he looked like he was having a great time. The drummer, Sean McManus, was a treat to watch as he used sticks or brushes on the suitcase. He had an old metal pot attached to the suitcase that he used as a cymbal. It was surprising when he switched to clarinet and went to town. They even played a klezmer tune!
Gord Mowat played the upright bass and he was so good he was easy to overlook. It wasn't until halfway through the concert that I really noticed him. He laid down a fine bass line that kept everything moving and reminded me of Bryn Bright of the Texas Trio.
The lead guitarist, Murray D. Evans, was a sight to see. He writes most of the songs and sings with clarity and glee. In every song his strong sense of humor came through.
At the end of the concert they played an anti-war song called Marching Over The Bones. Jim Blum played it on WKSU's Folk Alley. They said this was the first song played on American radio. From what I've heard there will be a lot more being played soon.
The playing was so good and harmonies so tight that I stayed past two in the morning. I got a chance to talk to Murray Evans and he told me the band's old name was das macht Show! I can see why they changed it.
I bought their cd, Four Legs Good, and will be listening to it this week.
If The Dust Poets come anywhere near you get out and see them. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
At the end of the concert they played an anti-war song called Marching Over The Bones. Jim Blum played it on WKSU's Folk Alley. They said this was the first song played on American radio. From what I've heard there will be a lot more being played soon.
The playing was so good and harmonies so tight that I stayed past two in the morning. I got a chance to talk to Murray Evans and he told me the band's old name was das macht Show! I can see why they changed it.
I bought their cd, Four Legs Good, and will be listening to it this week.
If The Dust Poets come anywhere near you get out and see them. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
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