Much That Is Hidden

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Reg'lars here know about Chattaboogie's Friday Nightfall free summer concert series (posted about at least once). Since Max was born our attendance at the weekly fete has been sparse, but we were committed to get there last night to see one of our favorite artists, Michelle Shocked. We originally had planned a kid-free date night but had to scramble for alternate plans for lack of a babysitter. We decided to venture out with the boy in tow, so we squeezed in an extra late afternoon nap for him, and that made all the difference. He was a bit glazed by the end of the evening, but we had a blast.

Jen turned me on to Michelle back when we first met via her Captain Swing album, and she quickly occupied slots on my listening list with her strong songwriting and equally powerful voice. In recent years she has gone gospel but obliges (a bit grudgingly, it seemed) her longtime fans with some of her solo folky stuff. She was backed at the start and finish of her set by The Lee Boys, a pentecostally-raised family band that plays "Sacred Steel," which their website describes as "a unique form of Gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The musical genre is rooted in Gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations." They had a funky, Robert Randolph-on-Jesus sound - talented and quite entertaining. The middle of Michelle's set was the only part with tunes I recognized, including Anchorage, The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore, Memories of East Texas and Graffiti Limbo.

So not 100 percent of the Michelle Shocked I love the best, but getting to see her live (and up close, as is always possible for the dance floor in front of the Nightfall stage) is a nice notch on the musical belt. I loved her beat up Telecaster!
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Labels: music