Last night I was moonlighting at the Conor Byrne pub in Ballard - a fine place for a pint, and quite often some really good music. Such was the case this time around with Jonathan Byrd, Chris Kokesh, and Chuckanut Drive. The Chuckanut fellows are familiar, I know some from other bands, some through mutual friends, the usual music scenes are incestuous thing. They were great, really have the songs together, lots of dynamics, and the steel v lead guitar tradeoffs are fun as all hell. Stel v Steve - I could watch it for hours.
Roots & Rock here
Chris Kokesh has a clear high voice, plays the fiddle extremely well and has a comfortable stage presence, that easy way of making you want to listen. At least it worked on those of us who like music - the back of the bar was as usual talking to itself oblivious to the show at the front. Made me want to have a venue of my own yet again. Cool songs too :)
Jonathan Byrd - wow, this guy writes a song. I had read a little hype, a little myspace hype too, and I'm pleasantly surprised that I can report the hype is in fact pretty much all true. Highlights - the Waitress song, May the River Run Dry, and Clean
The thing I was thinking as I drove home, aside from wishing for a smoke and a bottle of wicksy, was how I had forgotten the power of great songs to transport an audience, hell to transport me. A great song puts you in the moment faster than any kind of mindful meditations, pretty much faster than anything not involving life and death as far as I know. Inspired me to write some new stuff, without being afraid to use those same old chords. The right words. At the right time. In the voice that tells you true...