Roll Call - Best Week Ever Edition

While many of you were at BJM or Liz, I was up in Baltimore to see John Wesley Harding. Seeing as he falls somewhere between Robyn Hitchcock and Billy Bragg I was expecting an evening of songs and cynical musings, but got something a bit different.

Wes's latest projects involve a new book "Misfortune", written under his real name of Wesley Stace, and soundtrack for the book called "Songs of Misfortune". Last night was the live debut of The Love Hall Tryst (JWH, Kelly Hogan, Brian Lohmann and Nora O'Connor) the group which recorded "Songs…" Primarily an a cappella group the group did several British Folk Songs with a brief interlude of Wes solo material. While hearing four talented singers perform was enjoyable, they even ended the show performing without the benefit of the PA, overall the gig was so-so. It's a bit tough trying to grasp on to wordy story songs with the themes of murder, murder, murder and drinking. Will have to give the CD a whirl to get a better sense of what was going on…

I love John Wesley Harding…saw him many many times at the old Birchmere. He was in town a couple months back reading from and doing songs about the book, but I missed it.

While the show was so-so, I'm sure he was engaging. He's the bees knees!