26 May 2016: The Reverent Few @ El Mercado: Austin, Texas

“Comeback is a good word, man. “~ Mickey Rourke

Just when I thought that I was done writing about show reviews… I got blown away by something different. Something fresh. Something friggin’ AMAZING!!!

This was something unforeseen and unexpected.

Not to say that since I have not been doing show reviews in a while. Because I have.

I rolled into new and strange territory a few weeks ago along the Red River area to a place called THE MOHAWK to follow some singers that I had stumbled upon at this year’s Texas Rock Fest.

The Reverent Few rocks out at THE MOHAWK

The band that was “newest” to me was called THE REVERENT FEW.

Rooted deeply in the Blues and cranks out the rock and roll in its purest form. Just like it used to be.

I sat there listening and for me, it was fresh, it was new. And a very distant thing from the particular genre of music that I have been accustomed to for such a long time. And I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with that. However for myself, I must cleans the palate once in a while and spend time venturing out of that “comfort zone” and experience something different. And that’s what I did.

I found myself in a mystic world of heartfelt, soulful mix of anything and everything under the sun. Only BETTER!

Paige DeChausse on vocals and Nick Boettcher on guitar, these two rev it up and then blast off to the moon!! It has been a very long time since I have seen that kind of dedication and passion towards music while on stage.

But by the end of the night, I had tears in my eyes at least once and goosebumps the whole way! Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know that once that happens I have to get in some more. And I won’t rest until I do. 

And then the resident gig at EL MERCADO.

After a long flight back home from Los Angeles, a short rest, and a long bus ride to the other side of the city, I arrived at El Mercado Restaurant. Not to mention I was attempting to beat the weather to the gig, hoping to not get rained on.

Arriving a tad early, but in time to catch a sound check. .

However when the show officially started, that’s when total awe, magic, and pure rock and roll began. The entire world and its problems disappeared completely if only for a short evening.

It didn’t take long for about 30-50 people to arrive. Friends, family, fans alike. All joined together as one with a rocking common bond.

So let me begin this review as this build up is probably killing you. (Okay, maybe not. But let’s do this.)

Is Ladiest First okay? Good.

The Reverent Few at El Mercado

Paige DeChausse obviously has the kind of voice to grab my attention. Otherwise this blog post wouldn’t be written. To try and describe Paige’s voice is like a mixture of Janis Joplin, Donna Summers, Alanis Morrisette (in some ways), Billie Holliday, and quite possibly a little bit of Adele. All strong, all vibrant, all powerful, and all influencing.

As I stated, the tears and the goosebumps came and I couldn’t stop them!

Nick Boettcher has one helluva stage presence with his guitar and backing vocals. Almost to the point where I wished I could sing like that. If you want a sound like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Billy Gibbons then Nick is your go-to-guy. If there’s ever an event that I am aware that needs a guitarist, I am asking him first.

Stage chemistry between the two of them is out of sight. And you’re stuck in this blissful confusion in trying to figure out which of them is causing you to move around.

I am given to understand that “home” to the two of them is actually near the Chicago, Illinois area and now they are here.

I for one, danced the ENTIRE night with The Reverent Few. But only from where I was sitting which was dark. So I doubt I have to worry about humiliating videos surfacing online of me “gettin’ down.”

By the end of the evening, there were surprise musicians from Ireland who sat in for a while, and they were just as lovely. They have a CD release party on the 1st of June at the Continental.

Yet half the room approached the stage and began dancing. I do hope that my camera flash didn’t bother any body. It is always a great idea to capture these kinds of moments.

I was met up by Nick’s mother who offered a dance and promised me that she would make it happen. She was dead serious. And I believed her. So funny!!

I had just one trick up my sleeve before everything came to a close.

If you actually research Paige DeChausse online, you’ll find something rather interesting about her musical career. I won’t say what it is, but now (at least in my eyes) she’s a celebrity, and she just happens to be local. I insisted for an autograph, she smiled kindly and obliged the request.

That’s all I am going to say about that.

When I said my farewells and departed I noticed that it was raining and raining hard. “Beat The Rain” may have lost in the first round but there was no way I was going to win on the return trip.

The restaurant staff caught me staring at the windows and doors at the rain. They asked if I had enjoyed myself with the show. And I had. Then I mentioned to all of them a comment about how hard it was raining.

I departed with these words: “At least I can say that the band got me all wet.”

Everyone who heard it was on their knees laughing as I popped open the front door and exited into the wet and stormy night.

As I waited in the storm, I was STILL dancing around, reminiscing the awesome tunes that I had just finished hearing.

It can’t be helped though. If you love to dance, THIS IS IT!!!

The Reverent Few caught me by surprise. And I cannot say that I will complain.

I’m stuck. I’m sold. They win. They have pulled me back in. Game Over. I’m going to do my best to follow their gigs and shows as much as I can. And if you love music and near the area, I encourage you to do the same.

 

https://www.facebook.com/paigeandthereverentfew/

12 March 2014: Beautiful Disturbance At Heart of Texas Rock Fest: Austin, TX- SXSW 2014

“It’s a good day to be alive!”~ Brenda Flores 

Another day, another venue, another show. Another way of viewing a set. 

Outdoors and on a pretty nice sized stage. 

It was pretty cool I thought. 

But I would take one hell of a beating for it. And that’s not to say that BEAUTIFUL DISTURBANCE did me in, but my travels to get back and forth did that to me. 

I think however that I am starting to get the hang of things and how they work around downtown that goes with what I can do, what I cannot do, and what I should and should not do.

For example. I should not go along 8th Street to find the northbound bus back home. That was a miserable, painful journey that had me going up AND DOWN hills that I could not keep total control in my wheelchair. 

Now I didn’t tip out or fall out of it or anything but holy smokes I almost wished I had. Then someone would have seen me on the ground and called for the paramedics. At least I would have had an urgent ride somewhere and it wasn’t on that stupid hill. 

The Heart of Texas Rock Fest however will go for the rest of the week. Its just that BEAUTIFUL DISTURBANCE had a hand in it this afternoon. 

Come hell or high water, I was going to do it. I was going to go. I didn’t care what the masses were saying. They are all dumb-dumb poo-poo heads. 

Yeah, that’s right. I said it. 

However let’s not take away from the musical mind-blowing that is the reason and purpose of my journey today into the elements. 

I’ve never seen them play outside before. I’m sure they’ve been to an outside venue before. I just haven’t seen them. I think that for SXSW 2013 they were on a rooftop somewhere. That had to be outside.

Seeing them all together again as they walked around like family was a really cool thing. Sometimes they would break up into twos but they were always together with one another.

I am not 100% sure if their set was the same set that the played a few days ago at the Dirty Dog Bar, but it sounded familiar. And I loved it. Even when they got to my favorite song! I didn’t give a crap who was watching and what they were saying because I was enjoying myself and that’s what this is all about. Enjoying music. Enjoying life THROUGH music. 

Its almost a religion because I follow so much music of different kinds. 

Brenda Flores caught me lip synching again. Oops. She drew out her hand and pointed in my direction and so I pointed back. When she finally broke her gaze, then I retracted my arm back. 

Its something that I do like about BEAUTIFUL DISTURBANCE. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what your background is, once they get to know you, they treat you like one of their own. The entire band knows that I love the song “Nearly Forgotten” so whenever its played. Sometimes, the eyes are on me! But they are coming from the stage. 

Auggie was tearing and ripping shit up as usual. I still contend that he’s a beast. He’s got this rocking new guitar that is out of this world. 

Auggie, please remember I said the above sentence when reach 114 years old. Thanks!!!!!! 

And even in the blustery wind, this band got up there on that stage and out of their comfort zone and still brought down the stage in a swirl of musical fire. 

I am glad to hear some new material being played live now as well as a few songs that are not AS new but still unreleased as far as recordings are concerned. 

All in all a great time and a great mix. And I am probably promised just the same in the next couple of days as I was today and the time before that. 

They are about to go on stage again as I write, but I had overdone things today. Especially with going to battle against 8th Street in downtown. Injuries to hands are a pain when you use a wheelchair. I know that I should get gloves. You don’t have to tell me that!! I’m working on a ride to get them. 

Gloves however would not have helped in this case as the street was so friggin’ steep for a wheelchair that it was ridiculous. And thus we have a very exhausted, sore, and hurt Dambreaker… but a happy and content Dambreaker. 

Thanks to BEAUTIFUL DISTURBANCE. I’ll see you VERY soon.