Billed as "Stories And Songs night" and advertised by a very attractive handbill/poster featuring simply four chairs waiting to be occupied, tonight's show allows us the opportunity to get up close and personal with four eminently distinctive Transatlantic talents.
For the uninitiated, STEVE WYNN is the former leader of LA'S superb DREAM SYNDICATE; DEANNA VARAGONA is normally sax player with Nashville collective LAMBCHOP; WALTER SALAS-HUMARA heads under-rated New Yorkers THE SILOS and ROBERT FISHER heads New Englanders WILLARD GRANT CONSPIRACY, who - like LAMBCHOP - are liable to take to the stage with anything from 5 to 25 members.
Armed predominantly with acoustic guitars - though Steve straps on a lovely Cherry Red Danelectro and Walter often takes on the quartet's percussion duties, bashing out rhythms on a guitar case with brushes - they cruise through a wonderful two-hour set, taking turns to dip into their bags of inimitable musical (mis)adventures in a round robin fashion.
ROBERT FISHER opens the proceedings with "Notes >From A Waiting Room" - a highlight this reviewer recalls from a WGC soiree in Myrtleville prior to last Xmas - and, as ever, death's shadow hovers like a vulture over his songs this evening, not least "Massachussetts" and "Suffering Will Come To Us All". This latter providing the evening's most genuinely harrowing moment despite some redoubtable opposition.
WALTER SALAS-HUMARA, meanwhile, is a real find. In his ignorance, your reviewer had missed out on THE SILOS previously, but will be endeavouring to rectify this sad state of affairs now. Walter's an NYC resident, and the great city's spirit resonates in his finest songs, such as the yearning "When The Telephone Rings". He also excels at picking out nagging chord progressions on his battered ol' acoustic and writing defiant tunes full of emotional bite like "Susan Across The Ocean" and the one featuring the chorus: "Dancing along with your head held high/ Holding onto life."
DEANNA VARAGONA, meantime, proves conclusively that KURT WAGNER ain't the only idiosyncratic genius lurking in the LAMBCHOP pack. Quite plainly a notable songwriter in her own right, Deanna mirthfully suggests she's "got the handle on relationship songs" tonight and so it goes, with her duet with Steve on "Goodbye Kiss" providing a transcendental moment on an evening plagued with them. Deanna is cool and laid back throughout, tastefully colouring the other performers' songs with exquisite finger picking and some lovely melodica touches on Steve's magnificent "My Old Haunts":intriguingly introduced as "Berthold Brecht goes to Hollywood."
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Considering the quality of the entertainment on parade, your reviewer's cup's already overflowing, so to have STEVE WYNN here tonight too is just simply outtasite. Always the consummate professional, Steve's the absolute crowning glory for me this evening and I'm tingling as soon as he picks out the intro to "Merrittville" from THE DREAM SYNDICATE'S terrific second album, "Medicine Show". Stripped down and vulnerable, when all four hit the "There's a game they play in the summertime," chorus, I'm virtually levitating.
Steve alternates between old and new selections.Aside from "Merrittville" and the evocative "My Old Haunts", he treats us to "Look Both Ways" from CHUCK PROPHET'S "Brother Aldo" album (a genuine lost classic, folks and Steve would also recommend "Homemade Blood"), plus "Southern California Line" and "There Will Come A Day" from his recent (excellent) "Here Come The Miracles" double album.
The former is replayed as a rollicking train song tonight, complete with ominous harmonica from Robert and Walter doing a fine job in replicating Linda Pitmon's martial drum beat from the record.
"There Will Come A Day," though, is a fitting conclusion to the set proper. As Steve suggests, it's "all about redemption" (hey, that's rock n' roll!) and it's quite simply one of his finest songs with one of those cool, singalong choruses that will fly around your head forever. Tremendous stuff.
After a generous two hour set, they return for a couple more, ultimately signing off with a rousing rendition of the DYLAN/ BYRDS chestnut, "You Ain't Going Nowhere." Talk about spoiling us!
Whisperinandhollerin inend to bring you far more on Steve Wynn's career in the near future, but truly "Stories And Songs" tonight presented four equally sublime performers revelling in the Lobby's laid-back ambience and delivering intimate versions of songs that positively reek of passion and individuality.
I'd unequivocally recommend every one of 'em.
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