You Was There hits Jasmine Ash, Jonah, Fernando, Hillstomp… Whew!
Aug 7th, 2007 | By thestonewailer | Category: Rock, Pop, Rock, You Was There, CDs Just Released, Bootlegged Sets, Knee Deep in the Scoop Law
And a trip across the river to catch Hillstomp’s release party at Dante’s
(Doug Fir, July 28) Well, what can I say, but, “Daddy Likes!’
Saturday Night and I got to see just about everything I wanted to see, and then some.
I set up at Doug Fir, one of my favorite places to go anyway, but this night promised to be memorable and in fact, it was. Wow! A couple glasses of my favorite Lagunita IPA, and along comes Jonah, a new band to me.
I don’t know how or why they got the name, and I should have asked. The place really started to fill in as they did their thing.
The last two shows I’ve seen at Doug Fir featured artists in the opening slot that not only failed to disappoint, but delighted me. And Jonah, if you are out there, you really draw!
The crowd livened up and the boys gave Jasmine Ash and company a set up they could really work with. (Coming soon, a review of Jonah and their latest album “Trust Everyone Before They Break Your Heart.”)
Jonah’s set stream and podcast here.
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| Photo by Kyle Oddson |
Speaking of breaking your heart… In a time when the only female pop stars on the market skew to the ridiculously pop-tarty and vapid-like, or, on the other end of the spectrum, bordering on tearful boredom and torch song, there has to be someone who can make me love again…
That was a terrible introduction to a true rising star, and knowing my editor, he’ll leave it in there to humble me.
I admit certain things: Loving Throwing Muses and Julianna Hatfield and Liz Phair, because they didn’t embrace pop music, rather, they redefined the sound that women rockers make.
Ash and the band look like their fresh from the prom or a wedding reception circa 1989, but their sound is catchy, clean, and heartfelt. She played a beautiful set featuring the songs from her new album, “Shine,” with a surprising amount of audience recognition and appreciation. I say this because the last time I saw the band, they were on fire, but the audience didn’t get it. This time, the harmonies from the backup trio, the flow from keyboard and guitar melodies, the delicious pace of the whole performance was palatable.
Unfortunately, all battles have their casualties, and while I recorded a solid set, when I transferred the files over, somehow Ash’s set got erased. For my penance, I ask you readers to suggest a fitting punishment for dishonoring this wonderful set. Forgive me, but I am occasionally an idiot.
You can catch the first two minutes of each track on CDBaby.
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| Photo by Kyle Oddson |
F E R N A N D O in big capital letters. Of all the artists ever to grace this stage, none has ever been able to move me like this man, for multiple reasons.
First, like all truly great musicians, he surrounds himself with the best people; second, he never fails to deliver passionate, meaningful performances; and he is genuine in all respects. His material is always complex and dynamic, extremely unpredictable and moving. You might not like every Fernando song and album the same, but they will grab you, and you will find yourself appreciating them.
Fernando the studio muse and Fernando the performing artist at work reminds me of how I feel when experiencing great films. Even though I might not have felt like seeing or feeling those things, they take you there. The set you can hear for yourselves. I cannot put words to how it was to be there, except to say that for days afterwards, I can remember little snippets of the set, stuck in my head, chirping away at me like crows and robins, like great movies will do. It was that good.
I have my favorites, and Fernando is my Elvis. And that’s all right Mama, that’s all right.
Fernando set stream and podcast here.
After the Elvis set, I hopped across the bridge hoping to catch Hillstomp in their last set at their CD release party at Dantes. I got to hear a bit of the last set, and the encore.
What a damn party. There is something wizardly about these guys. A Hillstomp show is like a giant, Alt. Blues party that never slows down. I was very blessed to get the chance to gush over them in the green room at Dantes, and I feature it here, but I didn’t record the last set because we didn’t get permission beforehand.
Saturday nights like this come around once-in-a-while. You Was There experienced an eye-opening set from a new artist that shows great promise in Jonah, got the pants rocked off by Jasmine Ash, and the socks rocked off by Fernando. It must have been laundry day because, by the time I heard Hillstomp, I was down to some assless chaps and a cowboy hat, and they rocked that off too!
If you was there, you’d understand.
Hillstomp interview stream and podcast here.
- By Rob Lewis for The Stonewailer
