She & Him  | |
| Leonard Cohen | |
| Gary Louris | |
| STARS & MIRACLE FORTRESS | |
| Josh Rouse | |
| Born Ruffians & Caribou | |
| Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band | |
| The Bicycles | |
| The Police | |
 | Edwin McCain & Low Stars |
Edwin McCain & Low Stars April 19, 2007 Reviewed by Jason Shaffner Those who expected a laid-back acoustic set at The Paradise Rock Club on April 19 may have felt pangs of disappointment during Edwin McCain’s energetic (and electric) set. But anyone who left the venue without a smile dressing their face must not have been listening. Simply put, McCain and his band put on one hell of a show. I had never before seen McCain live, and grounded my own expectations on the steady, upbeat, often-acoustic, and generally innocuous alt-rock found on his studio albums. Several of his more famous singles, including “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask For More,” are rock ballads that sound as if they could easily cross onto the country charts. On stage, McCain leaves little doubt that he’s a rocker. His long hair cropped short, and finally showing a little age in his face, McCain led his band through most of the tracks from his latest release Lost in America (2006), along with a smattering of hits from his previous releases. Throughout the show, the band members took their turns showing off their virtuosity. My favorite improvisational stretch came during an extended version of “Sign on the Door.” Other highlights included “Gramercy Park Hotel,” “Shooting Stars,” and “My Mystery.” McCain’s stage persona is conversational and friendly—he seems like the kind of guy you wouldn’t mind tossing back a few beers with. At one point he confessed that although he penned “Shooting Stars” as a reaction to the spiteful tendencies of reality television, he has recently developed a shameful addiction to The Real Housewives of Orange County. Later, while introducing “Lost In America,” he told us an anecdote about a man he met in a bar whom he judged to be the most boring person he’d ever met… until the man’s wife walked in. Despite his easygoing nature, he kept the talking to a minimum and focused on what he does best – belting out (and holding) big, dramatic notes, imbuing them with all the emotion he could muster. --- Four acoustic guitars slung across the guts of four singer-songwriters. Lead vocalist duties passing up and down the line. The simple beauty of four voices merging into a singular harmony. Déjà Vu, anybody? That’s a lousy joke, but it is impossible to hear the Low Stars without thinking of Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young). The band more than acknowledges the similarity, touting CSN as one of their major influences. Gimmicky as it may seem at first (such was my knee-jerk reaction), there’s a reason CSN(Y) sold so many records: done right, harmony sounds pretty damn good. Until I saw them opening for Edwin McCain, my only exposure to Low Stars was the theme song for the ABC series What About Brian. Fun and effervescent, “Calling All Friends” was the second song in their sixty-minute set, and the most radio-ready of the myriad offerings from their self-titled debut CD (available exclusively from Starbucks and iTunes). Although their studio album features more typical arrangement (in other words, a rhythm section), their live set featured no such embellishments. In addition to sappy but palatable ballads such as “I Can’t Live Without Your Love” and “Why Don’t You Call Me Your Baby Anymore?” Low Stars did an admirable job covering Bruce Springsteen’s “One Step Up” and struck a high-water note with the old-fashioned but engaging “Just Around The Corner.” Another strong segment was the final number, “Love, Love, Love.” After challenging the audience to sing along, the band members took turns leading us through a haphazard (and far from sing-along friendly) digression from the album lyrics. As an opening act, they nearly stole the show. Fans of catchy acoustic rock should run out and catch the Low Stars when they pass through your town. Or pick up a copy of their debut the next time you’re satisfying your caffeine fix. |  |
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