Last night I went to the very first show at Minglewood Hall, Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN to break in the fresh paint. The old site of Strings'n'Things has now been converted into a cool live venue, with free parking, and no need to go all the way down town. Old Crow Medicine Show were the draw card supported by The Felice Brothers.
The Felice Brothers were an absolute unknown to me. They were super-animated on stage, having way too much fun. Instrument-wise, they presented thinline hollowbody guitars (new Guild, or Hofner? I was just a bit too far away), bass, drums, keys, accordion, fiddle, corrugated tin and wash tub! With vocals and styling very much like Bob Dylan, and the fun stage presence, their set had me smiling all the way. As a treat, A.A. Bondy was playing a guitar for them through the whole set, and sang lead on one song.
Old Crow Medicine Show delivered all I expected and more. It took me a few songs to realise they don't have a drummer - but they don't need one, nor do I think they could find one to keep up. It wasn't all fast cow-punk bluegrass, but when it was fast, dang! The acoustic guitar and banjo chugged along at an unbelievable pace, and I honestly don't see how drums could fit. No less than three banjos, acoustic guitars with pickups, an upright bass and fiddles... just glorious. They have a backbone 6 string guitar/banjo player, and two of the other guys played 5 string banjo on and off. One of them, and I need to research this more, but it seems he is player that uses the less seen technique of pushing the strings with the tops of the fingernails rather than the more common upward plucking. Quite a sight at high speed, and it commands respect.
In the genre, they can be summed up as brilliant, and fun.
As the show progressed, various, and eventually all members of The Felice Brothers joined them, and it was a right royal hootenanny. A top notch evening!
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