WAMC Performing Arts Studio
News and Reviews
| Russell offers musical journey By Michael Eck, Special to the Times Union (First published in the Times Union of Albany, NY: Sunday, April 30, 2006) Tom Russell is a songwriter's songwriter. His work displays an unusually high level of craft and detail. Perhaps it's because he dreamed of being a prose writer. Perhaps it's because he's a sponge for history, tall tales and the eccentric anecdote. Whatever the reason, he's good. Really good. That talent was on display Saturday night at the WAMC Performing Arts Studio as Russell made his Albany debut with San Antonio guitarist/mandolinist Michael Martin in tow. Russell opened the evening with a suite of songs from his new album, "Love & Fear." The record marks a departure of sorts for Russell. He's known, as noted above, for his stories and characters, but "Love & Fear" is largely about his own life. It has personal songs that detail a relationship gone wrong. There was certainly a dark tone to the beginning of the set. Russell kicked off with a snippet of Leonard Cohen's "Tower of Song" and then plowed into "Love & Fear" with a workman's drive. He didn't speak, he just sang -- "The Pugilist at 59," "Beautiful Trouble," Stealing Electricity," "Ash Wednesday," "Four Chambered Heart," one after the other. Finally, he broke the between-song silence, saying with a chuckle, "People are concerned, I know; they're waiting for the cowboy music." He got to that, including "Navajo Rug" and more. What followed was a much more joyous survey of his incredible back catalog, complete with reminiscences, name-dropping and a charming tribute to Dave Van Ronk. The latter made the crowd feel like they too were spending the night in New York's Sheridan Square, drinking bad white wine and soaking up the entire history of American folk music in eight hours. Even Russell seemed transported as he recalled hearing David Massengill's "Orphan Train" at Van Ronk's Place. Throughout the evening, Martin provided sometimes-subtle, sometimes-raucous but always-pointed backup, especially once he strapped on his mandolin. He was especially impressive on "The Next Thing Smokin' " and Russell's musical nod to Buck Owens (who will be celebrated with a tribute concert at WAMC on Friday), "Grapevine." Once he was deep into the show, Russell started pulling out the classics, and he seemed pleased at how well the intimate crowd knew his material. He went back to his early days for "Blue Wing," "St. Olav's Gate" and the epic "Gallo Del Cielo." Before finishing the show with the latter, Russell related the story of singing the song in a New York City cab for Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. While Russell sang, Martin burned on "Gallo," masterfully inserting Tex-Mex licks in between Russell's yips and yells. Good stuff.
Michael Eck, a freelance writer from Albany, is a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
|
| Used with permission of the Times Union of Albany, NY. Re-use rights may not be assigned to a third party without prior written permission from the Times Union. |