By: David de Young
I arrived at the Turf moments after Mary Bue kicked off an enjoyable Thursday evening of music. HowWasTheShow has covered Bue more fully elsewhere, but to add my own two cents, I can’t listen to her without being struck at how cool it is to hear such a big voice coming from a person of such small stature.
Mary Bue at the Turf Club - Photo by David de Young
Tonight, a stocking-footed Bue performed with a drummer stick bass player and special guest Eliza Blue, who joined her on violin, in a spot that is filled by Sara Softich on Bue’s recordings. Towards the end of her set it was just Bue and Blue onstage (yes, sounds funny, I know), but it was a configuration I enjoyed and hope to hear more of. Bue’s strong voice is uniquely recognizable; powerful, but never pushy, warm and present, but never affected, perfect to listen to on a cold winter’s night, Even if you don’t normally click on links when writers on music websites tell you to, please click http://www.myspace.com/marybue and listen to a track (any track will do, they’re all great). I’ll wait. If you like what you hear, check out Bue’s 2007 release, Boat With No Oars, which features the catchy “Baby, I Love You” which she played close to the end of her set Thursday evening.
You may not yet have heard of the middle band on tonight’s three band bill but you will likely be hearing a lot more about them in coming months. Bella Koshka, I am led to understand, have played only half a dozen shows after being formed in the fall of 2006 by violin player Hilary Davis and vocalist Laura Boland, who also serves the band’s lyricist. In addition to backgrounds in music, both Davis and Boland have close affiliations with the fashion and styling industry in the Twin Cities. But despite the fact that these two musicians are no strangers to looking good as well as sounding good on stage, don’t go thinking of the “Addicted to Love” video by Robert Palmer just yet. The songs they started to write impressed Minneapolis producer Darren Jackson (Kid Dakota, Hopefuls, etc.) enough that he agreed to produce their debut album, Slow Dancing on the Ocean Floor.
Bella Koshka will definitely benefit from more stage time, however, I was still impressed at how comfortable they were just being themselves. It’s much easier as an audience member to watch an honest performance by a new band as opposed to one by performers who compensate for lack of experience with pretense, so kudos to them in this regard. They had a great time Thursday, and it was contagious. Hillary Davis attacked her violin playing with serious but pleasant determination in a manner that can only be called “matter of fact,” not a phrase you often see in a show review. Laura Boland’s vocal ability helped carry the songs to lofty heights without ever sounding pretentious even on the ballads, her voice reminiscent of Kate Bush or even Jenny Dalton, who also shared tonight’s bill. Matt Vannelli on guitar is a welcome addition to the group, looking like a chiseled version of Danny Partridge or a younger incarnation of Tim O’Reagan, he tore into his parts dressed in a dapper oversized suit, never stealing the show, but always an integral part of the live sound. The live band is rounded out by Matt Franklin on drums.
Bella Koshka - Photo by de Young
The band opened with the moody, meditative instrumental “Compass,” the first song off the album and one that sets the tone for the seafaring theme (other songs are called “Anchor,” and “Treasure,” for example) that weaves in and out of the album. By the end of their set, they’d played all of the 11 songs on their CD, though not in order. Producer Darren Jackson was on hand to show his support, as well as Greg Reierson of Rare Form Mastering who mastered the disc. Reierson at one point turned me around and suggested I take a shot of the Turf Club crowd who stood silently and attentively for most of the set.
Listen to Bella Koshka for yourself on MySpace here: http://www.myspace.com/bellakoshka. My favorite song, “Replicant” (do I hear a Bladrunner reference here?)is featured on the site even though (oddly enough) it’s not one of the recommended tracks on the press release that came with the disc. You can hear Bella Koshka’s full album at a listening party January 16th at DJ Jake Rudh’s Transmission. Their official CD Release Party is January 19th, 2008 at the Bryant Lake Bowl.
Rounding out the night was Jenny Dalton, who seems to be everywhere these days, doing everything – she’s even started up her own podcast channel recently. Dalton was looking festive in tights of Santa Claus red, and her set was a combination of solo piano and full band songs, sometimes featuring guest violinist of the evening Eliza Blue. (Blue had also played with Jenny at her Carbon Lily Remixes CD release and "Halloween Circus" in October.) Her band tonight featured Murzik mandolin player Jeremy Grace on drums. Next chance to see Dalton is December 28th when she plays at The Secret Panels (a band featuring Grace and a couple other Murzik members) CD release show, a HowWasTheShow sponsored event at the Nomad Pub.
Eliza Blue and Jenny Dalton
Location Info:
The Turf Club
Artist Info: Bella Koshka, Jenny Dalton, Mary Bue
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