August 2019
Milton Busker And The Grim Work at Summervale August 15, 2019
I had a great time seeing music Thursday in the Interval in Burlington’s swath of farmland. Throughout the summer there is a fun festival on Thursdays with lots of families, fun activities, food, and music. I had a long day, but the schedule looked like there was a bit of a gap, so I took the lovely walk to Summervale. I chatted with a couple of cool people and stood in line to get some food. The band went on earlier than expected so I listened from afar for the first couple of songs.
The sound was pretty good off to the side as Milton Busker and the Grim Work lit into a song about letting you down. They followed with a cool version of The Basement Song, and followed with That Person Aside You. It was lovely as always, and I finally got settled into a nice spot on the ground in front of the band. They kicked up the pace for Glad To See You Go and I was in a happy place. Up next was a song I did not know. It was a wry tale of how we thank good guys with guns, set to a funky musical flow. It made me smile. Lost Cause followed and had some especially nice guitar mandolin interplay between Dave and Jom. Jesus In Chains has that great message and sounded powerful when Milton let his voice loose at the end. They slowed it down for a gorgeous Baby Let My Money Keep You Warm, then they raved it up for a fun cover of Men At Work’s Overkill. This got the little kids up and dancing and running and having a blast. They played a song that sounded new that was about how it all comes down to the face you wear or market share or something. It was very cool. They kicked up the pace for a cover of Driver 8 and closed the set with their take on Eleanor Rigby.
At that point it was about 7pm. I thought about staying for a couple more songs, but realized that it would really be best to just go home and get set for my radio show later that night. It was a really lovely time and I’m so glad I caught what I did.
I had a great time seeing music on Wednesday at The Skinny Pancake. The show was set to go from 7-9 and I worked until 7. I drove straight to the waterfront, found a decent parking place and walked back to the show. I thought of getting food but a huge line and a lack of tables changed the plan. I got a beer and found a spot on the patio to settle in and listen. Haley Jane has a powerhouse voice, solid skills on the guitar and engages with the audience about as well as anyone in the business. The first song I caught was about being out of line again, then she played one about the long steady process of improving yourself and turning yourself into a work of art. She envisioned a heart as a house full of rooms where all of your friends live on the next one, then played a song she wrote in the Elmwood Avenue graveyard. She opined that graveyards are a silly use of space and how it’s such a human thing to do to take up space even after you are gone. She tossed in a cover of a Tom Waits song about coming up to the house then played one about getting out in nature and rising up. She sang a song about how sharing secrets with others can help everyone’s understanding of life and closed the set with a song about relationships and how looks can kill. Just for fun, she tossed in a little bit of I’ll Fly Away.
The set break was quick then Margaux Higgins joined her for a song about loose screws that was really fun. Margaux left and Haley soldiered on with songs about roller coasters and a couple of busted hearts. She sang about Shenandoah then encouraged us all to ignite. I think the next song was a Woods Brothers cover, since she talked about how their show on the waterfront recently made her so happy. The song said hello I’m lonely and keep me around, if that helps. She sang of departed friends and wishing there was a bridge between here and the afterlife where we could meet our friends and party on that bridge. She sang about a daisy jar, then oh me oh my oh, she sang about Miss Ohio. She asked the audience to sing along on What’s Up and we sang “what’s going on” quite loudly. A song about Pablo Escobar followed and she closed the night with a song about giving a horse some Coca Cola or lemon soda, or something. It was really fun.
Shortly after the last note rang out, I took the short walk to the car and the quick drive home. She is an amazing performer and I’m so glad I caught as much as I did.
Joe Adler And The Rangers Of Danger at Summervale in the Intervale August 8, 2019
I had a great time seeing music yesterday in the Intervale Burlington. I have the radio show and the full write-up about it to do on Thursdays, but thought it would be nicer to catch 45 minutes of music than none. A little after 5:30 I took the lovely walk down to Burlington’s farmland, and wandered into the event space. I got some tasty food and found a seat on the ground near the band.
Joe Adler and the Rangers Of Danger opened with a funky cover of One World (Not Three) and kids began to dance from the first note. They followed with a soaring Brothers And Sisters and I was in a happy place. They mostly stayed with Joe’s album Many Things And Many Scenes, but a cover of Canary In A Coalmine was fun too. They sang about cloudy minds and how there are many lines to tow. After a bit, my clock said there was time for one more before I had to go work. One More Cup Of Coffee seemed an appropriate last song.
I dropped my food remains in the compost bucket and walked up the hill listening to the band play Relax. It would have been nice to be there for the full show but I’m so happy I caught what I did.
The Nancy Druids at Radio Bean, Llamadoll on Church st, Bear’s Tapestry at Light Club Lamp Shop and Lake Waves at Radio Bean August 3, 2019
The Nancy Druids
I had a great time seeing music last night in downtown Burlington. There were a ton of choices, and it had been a long work day, so I struck a plan to catch what I could. Granted, the plan mostly rearranged itself, but that can be fun too.
I was out the door around 7:30 and thought I’d begin at the top of Church Street for the Festival Of Fools performance by Llamadoll. It was set to run from 8-10. I thought I’d begin and end there and catch The Nancy Druids at the Bean from 8:30-9:30. I arrived downtown and had chills as I caught a bit of Llama’s smooth flowing soundcheck. I chatted with a bunch of cool people, and time ticked by until it was quarter after 8. It was a little too light to see the images on the screen, and since the show was old weird movies being shown while the band play a soundtrack, they needed to wait for a bit. As time tightened, I made the horrible decision to leave.
I ducked over to Radio Bean and got in and settled. The wait wasn’t long and The Nancy Druids lit into Sky as a four-piece semi-acoustic band. Sure Sean was playing an acoustic guitar, but it had a nice electric feel. John began the evening on bouzouki and Ariel sat in on cello. They settled into a beautiful pop sound with December then John switched to bass for the breezy gorgeous Vondlepark. By Design brought the rock energy up and The Space Between soared before falling into a washy guitar ending. At that point, Ariel left the stage and the band showed us that Salvation was all around. Just Another Day rocked steadily and Sign had a delightful poppy bounce. Remember Who You Are brought the energy way up, Bitter Days eased it back to a nice groove and Halo brought it back to peak. They closed the night with a pop song about the way things might have been before amusing the audience with Give A Little Bit. I really enjoy the acoustic version of the band, though love it when the electric version pushes those songs into the stratosphere.
On the last note, I ducked over to Church St and let the music flow over me and got sucked into the cartoons and images of Laurel & Hardy, and whatever else was showing on the screen. I found a spot to stand and was in a happy place until I noticed a couple of small raindrops. The projector was covered quickly and then the band stopped. They said rain was on the way and they preferred not to get electrocuted, so that was that. They’ve done the Llamadoll thing before and I hope they do it again. The bit that I caught was fascinating and I’d love to see a full show.
Llamadoll
Since it was earlier than expected, and Frank DeAngelis had mentioned that the Leatherbound books were at Light Club Lamp Shop, I thought I’d stop in. I think I missed them but caught a few songs by Bear’s Tapestry. They had a low-fi indie blues sound that was kind of cool. The playing was smooth as I settled in. They brought up Jackie Buttolph to sing on a song that I think was called Sing The Blues. It had a nice build and was a huge rocker at times. It had a nice prog vibe with a bit of jam. I’m going to see if I can track that song down. They played another cool song then I ducked back to the Bean to see what was going on.
Bear’s Tapestry
Bear’s Tapestry with Jackie
I quickly settled into the dreamy pop rock of Lake Waves. The room was pretty full and the music made it easy to dance around to. They reminded me a bit of The Static Age. The bass was especially expressive and the lead guitar subtle and sweet. The lyrics were in your face as they sang about wanting to grab your fingernails (I think). I only caught a few songs but they rocked hard and were fun and I definitely need to check them out for real very soon.
There was a ton more music happening, but I had to work in the morning and opted for the quick walk home. I’m very excited that I got to check one band I was curious about, and ran into two bands I knew nothing about. It was a pretty good night. Oh, and the Druids are just a sure thing every time.
Lake Waves