Rouse’s set list included three songs off the new album: “Salton Sea,” which he said was inspired by a YouTube documentary on that body of water that was narrated by John Waters (it was “kinda creepy,” he noted) “Businessman,” the catchy refrain to which (“Twenty-four hours a day”) Rouse claimed his kids sing whenever he and his wife argue (!) and the title track, ”Love in the Modern Age,” which he successfully urged the crowd to join him on. As I overheard one audience member say afterwards, “Wow, that was FANTASTIC - I didn’t expect him playing solo would be so good!” The affluent, dinner-and-a-show crowd of 30- to 60-somethings certainly loved it, clapping and whooping loudly as each song ended and happily singing along at Rouse’s every request. His tasteful integration of reverb, looping and chorus effects into his presentation was especially impressive, along with some deft whistling that helped carry the melodies over his consistently interesting chord changes. Looking dapper in a dark blue suit and tie and with his light brown hair swept back from his forehead, Rouse leapt in with two of his “oldies but goodies” - the title track from his 2003 album 1972 and “It’s the Night Time,” from 2005’s Nashville - before introducing several tunes from his latest album, Love in the Modern Age.įollowing some between-song banter about how tough the winter has been and “the best Scandinavian invention, besides IKEA and fish for breakfast: light therapy in the winter,” Rouse launched into the R&B-flavored “Come Back” with its confessional line “I miss my serotonin, my days are going nowhere fast” and the chorus’s plea “Come back… Baby, here the sun don’t shine / Bring my happy back.”Īccompanied only by a tobacco-burst Guild semi-hollow electric guitar, a small amp, a couple of effects pedals and an occasional harmonica, Rouse made his compositions come alive in ways that were surprisingly true to the fully orchestrated recorded versions. Though it was a cold winter’s night outside, the atmosphere inside was warm and convivial thanks to Rouse’s easy, charming banter and at times self-deprecating sense of humor. That winning combo was fully in evidence from the start and nicely enhanced by The Locks’ intimacy.
#Josh rouse flight attendant instrumental pro
To my delight, I discovered that Rouse is not only a pro’s pro as a musician - he played every tune, including a couple of older crowd-requested ones, with flawless virtuosity - but a personable and warmly engaging performer as well.
I had not had a chance to see Josh Rouse in person before, despite having been a fan of his nuanced songwriting and impressively diverse catalog for decades, so I was not quite sure what to expect when I caught him at The Locks at Sona in Philadelphia last Friday night. As published in Americana Highways on March 1, 2019
0 kommentar(er)
