My $12 Tuesday
May 18, 2011
Music, like any other art, is funny in that people tend to appreciate it more when it’s popular. Yet, somehow, the acts that rise to fame are not always the most talented. How many times have I spent over $100 to sit in the nosebleed seats of some vast arena to hear highly produced versions of songs that I’ve gotten obsessed with because I have heard them repeatedly on the radio? I’m really low-balling myself here…my taste in music isn’t that bad, but I’m making a point here.
Last night I spent a whopping $12 to stand in the front row at Schuba’s, a small performance venue situated at the back of a bar on Southport Ave in Chicago. The performing acts were ‘Elizabeth & the Catapult’ and ‘Harper Blynn’. I had no frame of reference, had never heard their songs before and was there exclusively because my friend Tyler had said “come see some live music with me on Tuesday.”
We showed up a few songs into E&C’s set. Elizabeth is immediately likable. She has a broad and warm smile that she flashes frequently while she performs. Her voice is soulful and embracing. If you like Ingrid Michaelson, Sarah Bareilles, and Regina Spektor then you’ll definitely like Elizabeth & the Catapult. Elizabeth floats effortlessly between keyboard and guitar, but it’s really her voice and her stage presence that shine ahead of everything else. Her songs are easy to relate to with fresh lyrics and playful tunes and Elizabeth seems to be genuinely having fun when she is on stage. Her self-deprecating humor, seemingly keen self-awareness, and whimsical attitude adds to her stock. Last night she performed with Harper Blynn’s drummer and lead guitarist. If she comes to your area - go see her…you won’t be disappointed. I plan to go see her at Bowery Ballroom when I’m home in NYC this summer.
When Elizabeth finished performing, Harper Blynn took the stage. If Maroon 5 and the Kings of Leon engaged in some cross-pollination, you might arrive at Harper Blynn, yet this still doesn’t even do them justice. It was half way through the second song of their set that I began to realize: these.guys.are.awesome. Really, really, really awesome. Like, wow.
J. Blynn is the band’s lead guitarist. He looks like a young Art Garfunkel crossed with Daniel Stern (the burglar in Home Alone). His energy is remarkable. After playing an entire set with E&C, Blynn rocked the stage with his own band for an hour and a half. He’s your typical Brooklyn guy, but it’s not off-putting. Instead, I found it somewhat comforting to be in Chicago and see someone who reminded me so much of home. His bandmates - Peter Harper, Sarab Singh, and Whynot - are a motley crew of talents. Drummer, Sarab Singh, is a really skinny guy (probably a function of all the calories he burns from hammering away on the drums) with a penchant for rim shots. His unique style of playing contributes tremendously to the band’s sound and energy. Whynot, whose birthday is today (we all sang to him last night - remember T?), has a waspy hipster air about him. And, Peter Harper - who plays keyboard and guitar and shares in the vocals with J. Blynn - is your typical handsome petite guy. His voice is awesome, his keyboard skills are stellar and by the end of the show, you find yourself gazing lustfully at him (ahem, S).
I’ve put together the playlist below so that you can sample some of the tunes that I heard last night. I think you’ll be impressed. I’ve also included at the bottom of the post a video of Harper Blynn performing their cover of Beyonce’s ‘Halo’…rad.
-R
