|
|
|
Apples in Stereo The
Holmes Brothers |
Marah, Slim Cessna's
Auto Club
Starting off with a pit stop in the Mexican War Streets to pick up Country Mice (treating themselves to a night in the city) we then barreled up 28 to Larryville to pick up the incomparable Chance Wayne, fresh off the Greyhound from the Polish-to-hipster Brooklyn neighborhood Greenpoint. Armed with a cache of beers we entered The Quiet Storm, just missing Local Honey’s set and waited, as Slim Cessna’s Auto Club got onstage close to 11:00. I caught this band opening for the now defunct Cowslingers two years ago and was pleasantly surprised. At that time Slim was a newer Pittsburgh resident and tonight was the first time since then playing with the full band, most of who reside in Denver. I’ll surmise that he’s gotten to know a lot of folks here ‘cause the place was packed and taking the stage he gave a thank you to all his fellow Pittsburgers. What followed was 45 minutes of pure country-hillbilly, death-obsessed, gospel-preaching Auto Club. Starting off with the dark “This Is How We Do Things In The Country,” Slim and the guys transformed this vegetarian friendly coffee house into a barn revival. Slim and guitarist/singer Munly have a unique interplay on stage, frequently bouncing off each other, as they appear to want to get each new verse off stronger than the last. So we left before this was over and, after a stop back on the North Side, found our way to Club Café on the South Side with Marah already underway. Apparently the guy at the door tired of collecting the cover; as we walked right into a full house. There were a number of familiar faces including Dave and Michelle from the Dave’s Music Mine and the infamous Jim, who was sitting down in front and hilariously pounding the floor to the beat and doing his best to liven the crowd. Hugh was at his usual front table and his geek artwork was posted up on the wall right next to the stage. What followed was yet another performance of the greatest Rock and Roll band known to man. Seriously, I don’t know how else to describe these guys as over the past two and a half years they have consistently churned out show of the year performances, on weeknights no less. So this being a Saturday I had big expectations and they didn’t disappoint. “Reservation Girl,” “Faraway You,” and my new favorite “Sooner Or Later,” every song was played to its fullest. A cover of “On The Road Again” has also made a crowd-pleasing entry on this tour’s setlist. Crazy Jim was all over the floor and those that were determined to enjoy themselves were. Unfortunately this place is full of tables and at one point Dave offered “If you’re sitting down you’re not my friend.” Well, the masses did rise and rampant drunkenness took its toll. I don’t remember what the last songs were or how many they played but standing right up front as the whole crowd were on its feet and the band stood firing-line like at the edge of the stage won’t be forgotten. In a perfect world, I’d be telling people about this and other wild nights with Marah in the tiny Club Café just as they were about to tear the roof off of Mellon Arena but we all know that won’t happen. Thems the brakes. |
