Unwicked

Nick Lowe

Dreamboat

The Quavers

Tonight started with me rushing away from work. I headed straight downtown on the E train to catch Nick Lowe playing on the last night of Music Downtown at 7 WTC. I have been a fan of Nick Lowe since I heard “Cruel to Be Kind” on AM radio as a kid in Pittsburg, California. I discovered Rockpile, and learned of his work behind the console producing some of my favorite music, including Elvis Costello’s early albums.

There’s nothing brilliant or edgy or arty about Nick. He’s just a great craftsman. A lot of his pop songs are derivative of other rock ‘n’ roll classics, but that’s sort of how the genre works. Complaining that he stole a riff from so-and-so is like griping over the fact that many blues guitarists play the same twelve bar grooves that Robert Johnson or Leadbelly played. Some of Nick Lowe’s earlier songs are big faves of mine: “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding,” “I Knew the Bride,” and “Heart.” Hell, “Heart” from that solitary Rockpile album is one of my fave recordings ever.

It was a little shocking seeing him looking close to his age, but that just reminded me that I’m not 25 anymore. He has a smooth voice and an easy and efficient way about him. I’ll always love him.

I left the WTC and headed up the E to take the L over to Williamsburg. Dreamboat (featuring Kelli Rae Powell and Craig Chesler) had their stage debut at the Laila Lounge tonight. They were charming and adorable and sweet and just the right amount of sassy. Kelli Rae Powell has a streak in her that I invite you to discover for yourself. She took me back 6o years and yet she’s very much of our time, and she has a killer voice. Craig Chesler took care of business with the second Gibson acoustic guitar I heard tonight; Nick Lowe strummed the first one. I loved these guys, and I’m thrilled to see what they do next.

I ended my night with a brisk walk across Williamsburg to Pete’s Candy Store to see The Quavers. I knew I would arrive mid-set, but until you’ve seem them, you cannot appreciate the effect repeated exposure to their music has. They call it front porch techno. The first time I saw them, I was a little distracted by all the work they put into their performance. They employ a number of effects that require them to adjust knobs and press buttons. I had seen a number of straight-ahead shows lately, and the techno aspect to their music was a little jarring.

But that’s my hangup and has nothing to do with them. The second time I saw them, I got it, and allowed myself to enjoy the songs and live in the environment they create. The third time, tonight, I saw more of the beauty in the music. They have a couple of songs that climbed into me tonight and they’re in there now.

The experience is sort of like driving the BQE from Queens through Brooklyn. The first time I drove it in a rental van, I was concentrating on the roads and off-ramps and not crashing into other cars and I did not have the chance to relax and enjoy the view. The next time on the BQE, I knew where I was going and I was able to enjoy the view. My goodness, Manhattan looks so damned great from afar, and there is something amazing about the way it looks from the BQE. The same for me with The Quavers–T. Griffin, Catherine McRae, and Dennis Cronin make music that is geographic, tactile, and beautiful.

I had a great time tonight. I’m still a little buzzed from it all.