In the times of heavy stagecraft electronic sets, sometimes we are shined with a back to basics demonstration of just plain good music.  This past thursday I was privileged in attending a Cass McCombs performance.

We are introduced to this evening with Frank Fairfield.  This heavy-mustached twentysomething’s brilliant grassroot folk set kept the audience engaged and wanting more.  In addition to his musical talents, what shined the most was his humble charming personality.  He might see himself as “just a kid that writes songs,” we perceived him, however, as a musical craftsman.

Cass opened with Buried Alive, a track off WIT’S END. this was followed by a short intermission, which wasn’t surprising since there was hardly any prep after Frank’s performance, or at least that we noticed.  

It was an overall deep-hearted performance, and the motif of “musicians just jamming out” followed throughout the night.  Being referred to as “unobtrusively brilliant” by music industry legend John Peel was nothing sort of presaging of the show.

After the show, we briefly conversed with Cass backstage. Although I’m not usually “starstruck” with artists, I was a bit intimidated given his musical genius.

We greeted him as he was smoking, incidentally right next to the propane gas tank cage. Following a quick step away from the propane tank for safety, I asked him why releasing two albums in one year.  To which he answered  that “he couldn’t release three.”  Of course, the man if not short of material. Both WIT’S END and Humor Risk have completely different moods,  to which can be stand-alones.  A double album wasn’t necessary, and neither was waiting to release Humor Risk.

We then discussed the influence of Arthur Russell.  I suspected of him being one of this influences, specially when I heard WIT’S END.  After a bit more short talk we exchange goodbyes and I exited with an embarrassing nervous giggle.

The show was exceptional and if the Winter 2012 tour happens to hit your town do not hesitate to attend:

WED 1.18  -  NASHVILLE . FOOBAR
THU 1.19  -  ATLANTA . THE EARL
FRI 1.20  -  SAXAPHAW, NC . HAW RIVER BALLROOM
SAT 1.21  -  BALTIMORE . OTTOBAR
SUN 1.22  -  PHILADELPHIA . KUNG FU NECKTIE
WED 1.25  -  NEW YORK, NEW YORK . BOWERY BALLROOM
THU 1.26  -  MONTREAL . IL MOTORE
FRI 1.27  -  TORONTO . THE GARRISON
SAT 1.28  -  PONTIAC, MI . PIKE ROOM @ THE CROFOOT
SUN 1.29  -  CHICAGO . LINCOLN HALL
MON 1.30  -  MADISON, WI . HIGH NOON SALOON
WED 2.01  -  MINNEAPOLIS . 7TH STREET ENTRY
THU 2.02  -  OMAHA . THE WAITING ROOM
FRI 2.03  -  DENVER . HI-DIVE
SAT 2.04  -  SALT LAKE CITY . KILBY COURT