Monday night at the Czar Bar was the place to be.
Opening band was Jessie Torrisi and the Please Please Me. Beautiful soulful Velvet-y Underground-y feel woven into an otherwise alternative edgy folk rock sound. Really pretty slide guitars and tinny drum treatments. Big soulful voice out of a tiny feminine package. She was singing, playing a cherry red vintage guitar that was alternated between an acoustic guitar, standup tom tom drum and blues harp. I particularly loved their song, “Take Me to the Brighter Side.” This song was played with just one acoustic and one electric guitar yet delivered an emotive cut right through to the core ballad that only few artists can seem to pull off. It’s amazing how the un-accessorized song can have such a profound impact on the emotions. Vocals so breathy, edgy, trampled by a life of soul crushing experience. Think Johnny Cash’s Hurt. That’s just how it’s fucking done y’all.
Next up was Atlantic Fadeout. Melodic, straight ahead rock and roll that genuflects to power chord classics and draws inspiration from modern, etherial if not somewhat hypnotic stylings. Solid all around musicianship, with particular mastery on lead vocals, slide guitar and drumming. Dutch on bass pounded reliably but showed respectful restraint. Not sure why such a cool cat that borrows some of his fashion sense from Lemmy Kilmister can’t just wild the fuck out once in a set.
Headlining the night was The David George Band. David’s new CD is coming out soon and he played two new songs from it including Radiant Man. David opened up playing acoustic guitar, backed by a bass guitar, cello, drums and liquid gold female vocals. This is David at his best: minimally accessorized classic, polished, radio ready pop. This guy needs to play AT big venues. FOR large crowds. WITH crystal clear sound systems. His brand of music is just too clean for gritty acoustics. Either the bar scene needs to step it up or David needs to step on out. Just sayin.
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