"MYSTERY BAND REVIEW #1"
This was a 3-piece band. There was a man who played guitar,
banjo, and violin; he was also a vocalist. There was a female
vocalist who also played banjo. There was a female keyboard
player, who also sang backup vocals.
The male band member was the centerpiece of the band. He was
an accomplished musician on guitar, banjo, and violin. He was
also an accomplished vocalist, capable of singing true to any
one of his several well-mastered vocal styles, while playing on
instruments. The band's name seemed to have been concocted as a
derivative of the lead singer's last name; that, and adding an
extension of "aires", to create the connotation that
perhaps the band members were quite wealthy. Of the several vocal
styles he applied during the performances, the two which best
illustrated this man's expertise and versatility, were those of
Satchmo and Elvis. He did each of those, very well,
although the Satchmo impression is the one which really catches
one's attention - his usage of it (to my ear), is almost
indistinguishable from the original. I would have liked to have
heard more of his bluegrass fiddle playing. He played an
incredible version of "Turkey In The Straw", and as
an intro, made mention of the fact that his father was a renowned
fiddle player, who'd won several contests playing that very song.
NOTE: During one of the intermissions, right after witnessing the
magnificent performance of "Turkey In The Straw", I
approached the lead singer and sought out some advice in the hopes that I
could improve my chances of gaining some skill on my viola via
doing so. I asked him what the proper way to hold the bow was,
and he described it to me. (Yes, as per what he told me, I'd been
doing it wrong.) I don't know if he was simply being overly modest,
or really doesn't realize his own skill level, but he told me that
he wasn't a "very good person to learn from". I told him,
that after what I'd just witnessed up there, I thought he was a
very good person to learn from. So, I'd like to take a
moment here in the middle of my band observation notes, to extend
a heart-felt "Thank You!" to him, for his
courtesy, patience, and advice. May he be appropriately blessed.
The female vocalist was a pretty woman dressed in flowery
silk(?) shirt and casual black slacks. She had a good voice,
but needs to either learn to roughen it up a bit with some
sharp edges to the sound, or stick to material which fits
her sweet, flowing style. An example of this, would be the
song "Me & Bobby McGee". Properly done, the
song contains a huge amount of pain and loss - and, the
rising above that pain and loss, to intend goodwill toward
the lost lover. I don't know if she simply hasn't experienced
that level of pain and loss, and consequently can't call it
up for the sake of portrayal, or hasn't developed the ability
to let it be portrayed - but, listening to her rendition of
the song, I didn't hear it. My impression of her was that of a
musically talented suburban housewife and/or single mother,
picking up some extra bucks to supplement her day job as a
corporation receptionist. By saying that, I'm hoping to have
included that she struck me as being a well-maintained, clean,
basically happy person. It also indicates that when she danced
on stage, I had the impression that she was slightly inhibited.
The only time she really seemed to let loose and shake it in a
suggestive manner, was during the Elvis impression she did. She
also played banjo during one or two songs they performed, and I
found myself wishing they'd incorporate more of her banjo
playing during their performances. It may be that she isn't
capable of singing and banjo at the same time,...(?) However,
if this is the case, one shouldn't view this as a detraction.
For example, during an interview article I read years ago,
Frank Zappa stated that he hated trying to sing at the
same time as playing the guitar. He said that when he tried to
do both at the same time, he ended up not being able to either
one properly - therefore, he avoided it like the plague. Given
that Jack is such an accomplished vocalist, it might have good
results to hand over the vocals during the songs that need a
rough edge, and have her pick up the banjo or tambourine (etc.)
as accompaniment during those pieces. I should mention, that
she was a very good tambourine player (better than me); i.e.,
watching her do it, I didn't catch any glitches of beat or sound.
The woman on the keyboard, who sang backup vocals during the
performances, was the female vocalist's mother. She did her jobs
well, content to remain more or less in the visual and artistic
background throughout the show. Being that she really stuck to
backup vocals & chorusing lines, it's difficult for me to
determine her range of styles. However, I can tell you that the
things she did, she did well.
A very unusual (in fact, as far as I know, unique) aspect of the show,
was the placement of a visual substitute in the place a drummer might
have otherwise occupied. The percussion lines were being produced via
the keyboard - but, perhaps they felt a need to create the impression
of an actual 4th band member; a drummer? To create this effect,
they had a large cardboard(wood?) piece on edge with a flashy drum set
portrayed on it. (I say portrayed, because I really didn't get a chance
to examine it closely. Perhaps, painted?) Behind this wall, they had a
dummy (mannequin?) placed so only the head was visible. I realize now,
while writing this, that I really only did see the head - so, the idea
that a dummy's body was below it is strictly an assumption on my part.
The dummy had a big smile on its face, and seemed to be having a wonderful
time, despite the fact that it remained motionless throughout the entire
show. At various points during the performance, they interacted with this
prop, placing different hats and/or sunglasses in it to fit whatever mood
was proper for the song at hand. For example, doing a bluegrass piece,
they put a floppy straw hat with straw-tassled brim on the head, to make
it look back-woodsy. Doing an Elvis song, they put dark sunglasses on it
to make it look jazzy. The wall portraying a drum set also had a second
function, being a place where the band leader could easily and quickly
hang his violin on a hook(?) so it would be safe but readily available as
needed. There were several songs where he switched between instruments
during the song - and this arrangment facilitated that, making it much
easier than it otherwise would have been.
I'm not sure if this group actually did any original pieces
or not, during their performances. If they did, then either they
didn't sufficiently indicate the fact to make it memorable to the
audience, or I simply missed the mention. Given the number of styles
and mastered tools in their gig bags, I could imagine some very good
music being produced.
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