review of the brooklyn show last week
Pete's Candy Store in Williamsburg in Brooklyn was my dwelling last night to
hear excellent acoustic-based music. www.petescandystore.com Taylor
Davis, Dave Golden and Robert Gomez were on the bill. I had walked in 15
minutes early toward the end of the bar's weekly bingo session and greeted
Taylor and Dave during their soundcheck, which was delayed a few minutes.
My notes are very scattered as I see I was writing too quickly and had just
one drink. I know, I apologize.
Watching Taylor on stage is much like watching one's inner child at play.
You can see his youth, his exuberance, the passion in his croon and style.
He wore a black knit cap, red shirt with thin white stripes under a black
suit jacket, faded blue jeans which were ripped at the knees, and old white
sneakers. Classic. Even more classic was his stance...sometimes craning
his neck over the mic, pointing his left foot inward like old rock stars
once did, stamping it for effect. Songlist included "In My Head" "Black And
White" "Do You Ever" (request from Dave) plus a few new tunes,"Do You Ever"
(3rd song) like some of his songs, was about a girl he really liked but he
was unsure about how far he wanted to go with.
It was at that point his guitar string broke and he got out his Fender,
which contained some neat reverb.
Taylor introduced his first song on electric as something someone wrote in
Queens NY in the 1960's. It turned out to be the Rolling Stones "Wild
Horses". Taylor's intonation are interesting as his style. "wild" seemed
pronounced like "vild" There is such a soulful pattern to his songs, so
much that he stretched every last emotional note out of the song.
Taylor felt a bit weird saying that songwriters love NYC and always want to
say they like performing there, but he truly enjoyed being in the city. He
said this in introduction to a new song, which I'm calling "Everything
Perfect"..song about a girl he wants to fly in from someplace, into NYC so
they can be together.
He broke out a capo and finished his set with his favorite song "Home From
Hollywood" which will be on his next release, possibly in August. He said
it was his first time playing that on electric...took some doing in getting
it to sound like an acoustic. I think it worked well.
Dave Golden appeared a few minutes later in white, thin striped shirt, brown
jacket, dark jeans and a rosewood acoustic. He remarked early on about not
having something to hold a harmonica on to, and had guessed there was a
certain Mr. Gomez in the neighborhood that would provide harmonica service.
Alas it was not Robert, who would be on afterward. First 3 songs were of
rapid motion and delivery, notably his "Appalachian Fight Song" He had
been recording in New Orleans for a while and decided to try some new tunes
on the sparsely-populated audience. 4th song was "Caramel", a very
well-written tune coming from 3 perspectives..a bar, a war room, and a
cemetery near a house on a hil..all old favorite touchstones for those old
folksters. I felt the song had something to do with personal consequence.
There was one tune Dave repeated his lack of a ready harmonica holder and
had one gal help him hold it for him. That gal was Arien Rozelle of
www.feelinganxious.com She put together an evening of music that includes
both Taylor and Dave among others.
He joked about he was in New Orleans during the time when Hurricane Ivan was
on its way, and that the folks, after locking up valuables and boarding up
windows and such, that they would have 'hurricane parties'. He mused
further saying we have terrorism as an equal threat as do hurricanes so why
not a terrorism party? Or even..a terrorism party song? Yikes. Well he took
off his jacket and trotted that song out..called "If I Live To Die Young"
Country Joe McDonald would be proud.
Taylor would join Dave on "Frida" with a beautiful intro and coda..the song
appeared to be about a forced separation of sorts.
Dave finished his set with "Hold On Tight" taking a cue from Taylor, as he
unplugged his guitar and walked off the stage..into the audience area and
played. Awesome.
I stayed for Robert Gomez, who sported a unique electric guitar and Olivier
helping on an Excelsior accordion. A 3rd guy would assist on assorted
percussion. Robert's songs are written for guitar, and there was some worry
on my part that the accordion was too involving in the music, but it soon
grew upon me...it was marvelous how it evolved. I didn't take notes here,
just sat and observed.
I chatted with him afterward. I remarked about how I was reminded of the
Tom Russell CD I was playing on my show, and there was one instance where
the music of the Mexicans (accordion-flavored Norteno music) crossed the
border into the 1940's and 50's...just before electric guitar and Les Paul
really took things to another level.
I then got a CD from him for airplay. The CD is "Etherville" and features
Norah Jones on the first track. Yes, that Norah.
Sounds like a rockin' show...too bad my friend Dan wasn't there to replace your guitar string this time.
Congrats on rockin out....can't wait for your return to TX so we can all party once again. And can't wait for the new album...I'm about to pee myself in anticipation.
Re: sdjfkl;
thanks guys...
hey dave...
i will be playing at a super sweet coffee shop on tuesday the 17th of may in dallas...
it is right by poor davids pub... it is going to be so much fun
that guy peter from theif is going to play a solo set also... and my good friends porterdavis from austin will be opening the show!!
they are redonkulous
just to let you know, ahh and you are the first person to know about that!!!
Re: yo
dang....sometimes crap can get pretty expensive, though...
but free show! sweet! rock on dude...I am SO there. two consecutive night of great music....how awesome is that?!?
kssunset1 you know that im after you tonight
Posts: 150
(4/18/05 7:58 am) Reply
Re: yo
great review.
~dawn
"I'm pathologically addicted to what you call a dickhead. Cheaters and liars seem to light my fire, and god I've got to get clean." ~Anya Marina "Sociopath"
The 2005 Holy Crap Gas is Expensive Tour (Taylor Davis) 4/12- Brooklyn, NY @ Pete's Candy Store (w/ Dave Golden & Robert Gomez)
4/13- College Park, MD @ College Perk
4/15- Columbia, SC @ Jammin Java
4/16- Charlottesville, VA @ Millers
4/19- Blacksburg, VA @ Shesha Cafe and Hooka Lounge
4/21- NY,NY @ Tribeca Rock Club (w/ Dave Golden & Akiva)
4/23- Portland, ME @ Acoustic Coffee
4/25- Portsmouth, NH @ Red Door
4/28- Williamsport, PA @ The Coffee and Tea Room
5/3- Chicago, IL @ Uncommon Ground
5/5- Germantown, WI @ Lattitudes
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