gaylekauf
May-18-2004, 8:45pm
Just wanted to forward this review from a show we did last weekend:
Railroad Earth once again provided the soundtrack for a very intimate night of music at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Massachusetts.
The venue is an imaginative forum for artists and performing musicians, with a church-like feel because of the widely spaced pews that separate band and audience. Typically, Railroad Earth plays crowded gigs in large bars and small theatres so, on this night, the crowd was ready to be enchanted by the beauty and healing power of this sextet.
The band began with Russ Barenberg’s “Magic Foot,” a pleasant way to warm-up the crowd and get their cranium’s bopping. Next up was “Give That Boy a Hand,” a welcomed treat in the setlist because of it’s positive message of hope and inspiration. This song features the line, “You must have had angels that worked overtime; just when you throw the towel in, it all works out fine”, that streamed brilliantly in this spiritual setting. “Peace on Earth” kept the charming groove flowing, with its bluegrass edge that drove the crowd into an energetic moment. “Lois Ann” and “Smilin Like a Buddha” inspired many in the crowd to rise up and share the groove, as these two Railroad Earth staples generally do.
You realize in an intimate setting how certain songs just fill a room and this held true for “Where the Songs Begin”, “Gone to the Fields”, and “Black Bear.” This triple headed monster, as I called it that night, was nothing short of true stateliness and magnificence. Watching a spellbound crowd as the band slowly and tenderly worked their way through these Todd Sheaffer masterpieces was worth the price of admission. The respectful audience was silent, yet invigorated by the power they behold.
“Waterfall Quicksand,” a new piece by mandolin player John Skehan and featured on the soon-to-be released CD, “The Good Life,” followed. This upbeat tempo and flat picking number picked up the pace after a gorgeous trio of songs. George Harrison’s “Any Road”, followed by “Head”, and the traditional “Bluegrass Breakdown” were all played masterfully and with authority. “Ragtime Annie Lee,” which features Andy Goessling on lead vocals, was the first of two encores. The band closed the night with “Storms,” giving the audience another taste of the magic to come on the new album. In quintessential Railroad Earth fashion, they sent us home feeling sublime about our experience.
-Jimmy Sapia
****************
"The Good Life" will be in stores on June 8, or you can reserve a copy through www.railroadearth.com (click on merch)
Enjoy!
Gayle
Railroad Earth once again provided the soundtrack for a very intimate night of music at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Massachusetts.
The venue is an imaginative forum for artists and performing musicians, with a church-like feel because of the widely spaced pews that separate band and audience. Typically, Railroad Earth plays crowded gigs in large bars and small theatres so, on this night, the crowd was ready to be enchanted by the beauty and healing power of this sextet.
The band began with Russ Barenberg’s “Magic Foot,” a pleasant way to warm-up the crowd and get their cranium’s bopping. Next up was “Give That Boy a Hand,” a welcomed treat in the setlist because of it’s positive message of hope and inspiration. This song features the line, “You must have had angels that worked overtime; just when you throw the towel in, it all works out fine”, that streamed brilliantly in this spiritual setting. “Peace on Earth” kept the charming groove flowing, with its bluegrass edge that drove the crowd into an energetic moment. “Lois Ann” and “Smilin Like a Buddha” inspired many in the crowd to rise up and share the groove, as these two Railroad Earth staples generally do.
You realize in an intimate setting how certain songs just fill a room and this held true for “Where the Songs Begin”, “Gone to the Fields”, and “Black Bear.” This triple headed monster, as I called it that night, was nothing short of true stateliness and magnificence. Watching a spellbound crowd as the band slowly and tenderly worked their way through these Todd Sheaffer masterpieces was worth the price of admission. The respectful audience was silent, yet invigorated by the power they behold.
“Waterfall Quicksand,” a new piece by mandolin player John Skehan and featured on the soon-to-be released CD, “The Good Life,” followed. This upbeat tempo and flat picking number picked up the pace after a gorgeous trio of songs. George Harrison’s “Any Road”, followed by “Head”, and the traditional “Bluegrass Breakdown” were all played masterfully and with authority. “Ragtime Annie Lee,” which features Andy Goessling on lead vocals, was the first of two encores. The band closed the night with “Storms,” giving the audience another taste of the magic to come on the new album. In quintessential Railroad Earth fashion, they sent us home feeling sublime about our experience.
-Jimmy Sapia
****************
"The Good Life" will be in stores on June 8, or you can reserve a copy through www.railroadearth.com (click on merch)
Enjoy!
Gayle