Two unique talents were on display at the Kessler Saturday evening – one artist that grew up in a small Texas town and worked to escape the Lone Star state and one artist born in Indiana that has developed a Texas persona.
Michelle Shocked, who headlines at the Kessler next Saturday, was a surprise opening act, test driving some new material. The Gilmer, Texas native, gained notoriety in the late 1980s with a leftist, punk rock persona, performing folk based singer/songwriter material. “Anchorage” is one of the best songs of the 1980s and was a welcoming opener. After performing “Memories of East Texas,” Shocked was joined onstage by the harmony duo the Sweater Set (Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin) and delivered a number of new songs about female cultural icons, including Amelia Earhart, Katharine Hepburn, and Ella Fitzgerald. Shocked switched to piano for these songs, which she admitted is not her natural instrument. With her simplistic playing and the intentionally campy choreographed gestures by the Sweater Set, the performance had somewhat of a high school talent contest vibe, but was so good hearted it didn’t matter. The short set ended with versions of “Come A Long Way” (with a “Stop in the Name of Love” sidebar) and “When I Grow Up” (with a short “Boogie Chillen” interlude). Shocked is an eccentric performer, but it was like seeing an old friend onstage and she was having a good time. The Sweater Set have superb voices with an element of the quirkiness that brought international fame to The Roches.
Kerrsville, Indiana native Junior Brown seems like a cartoon act, with his ten gallon hat and bullfrog baritone voice. He has a simple band setup – a drummer that plays only a snare and a cymbal, an electric bass guitar, and acoustic rhythm accompaniment. His song lyrics are typically both droll and insubstantial. However, he plays guitar like a man that can orchestrate tornadoes. Stooped over his double electric and steel guitar, Brown played solos that sounded like Don Rich (of the Buckaroos) performing at the speed of light. He played jazz licks and blues chords and a surf medley. Switching between guitars effortlessly, he modified tunings during the song, chopped chords with his hands, tossed out sharp sound effects, and manipulated the strings like he had an individual brain in every finger. All of this works within the context of the individual songs. His performance may be somewhat one-dimensional, but that can probably be said of any virtuoso.
A very good night for music in Dallas in an excellent small theater. Cost of admission – $20.
Michelle Shocked – B+
Junior Brown – A-
(The picture is of Michelle Shocked and write Steve Crawford)