Posted on August 24, 2015 at 10:59 pm
A cornucopia of wonderfulness at SubCulture, as the Glorious Laur-ius joined the Caucasian Rhythm Kings and our special guest Mairi D-P on the Big Violin. Laura sang virtually every note she sang in the Avery Fisher Hall concert of Parade earlier this year as well as a song cut from Bridges during previews, Mairi did a gorgeous arrangement of “Someone To Fall Back On,” we brought our usual destructive tendencies to one of Paul Simon’s greatest songs (with Eblen getting his Gadd on big-time), and I premiered another song from the show that I haven’t admitted I’m working on yet. Was it worth me taking three days out of my vacation so that I could come to sweaty New York City and play this concert? You bet your ass it was, Felicia.
Break Me Blues
Shiksa Goddess from The Last Five Years
He Forgave Me cut from The Bridges of Madison County (Laura)
Still Hurting from The Last Five Years (Laura)
Songs from Parade:
You Don’t Know This Man (Laura)
Do It Alone (Laura)
This Is Not Over Yet (Laura & JRB)
All The Wasted Time (Laura & JRB)
Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover (Paul Simon)
A Man’s Job (world premiere)
Fifty Years Long
Wait Til You See What’s Next from Prince of Broadway
Melinda
Someone To Fall Back On from Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes
JRB: piano, vocals
Laura Benanti: vocals
Randy Landau: electric and upright bass
Gary Sieger: electric and acoustic guitar
Jamie Eblen: drums and percussion
Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf: cello
Next show is September 11! See you there!
One comment
Another great concert! I feel privileged to have seen all of your SubCulture shows. Each month’s concert has its own special joys. Laura Benanti is a musical treasure, and it was wonderful to see her perform in such an intimate setting. I was thrilled to hear “This is Not Over Yet,” which is one of my favorites, and your cover of “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover” was great fun.
The best part for me is the new material. I didn’t think this was possible, but your songwriting keeps getting better and better. And your range is incredible – from the quiet intensity of “Fifty Years Long” to the hilarious “A Man’s Job” to the pounding “Melinda,” a song whose exciting rhythms make it impossible to sit still. And, as good as “Wait Til You See What’s Next” was to hear, I can already imagine how thrilling it’s going to be when it’s sung by a full Broadway chorus with a JRB vocal arrangement.
And kudos to the sound guys. At this concert, I particularly noticed how clear the vocals were, making it easy to catch every lyric.
The comments are closed.