Exit Signs

Via TwitPic

"You're all just a big, dark mass, dotted with exit signs... you have no idea how much of my life I have spent looking at the word 'Exit'."

-Gillian Welch, after the lights went down

So, finally attended a concert of my own choosing for the first time last night. Was it good? Yes, very. Could not have picked a better act than Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings. The above picture is the actual setlist for the night, courtesy of Welch's Twitter account.

First off, Farthing Auditorium needs to improve its sound tech, ASAP. The microphones were utterly awful and not at all complimentary to low-key Americana music. It was clean and relatively well-organized, though, so I can't complain too much.

But how was the actual act, you ask? Absolutely astounding. Here are a few of the highlights:

• "The Way It Goes" - One of my favorite tracks from the new album and a brilliant opener. Was expecting "Scarlet Town" to open the show, so it was a nice surprise.
• "Silver Dagger" - Not at all fond of the album version, but it was great live. I actually have a new appreciation for the studio version after hearing it in concert.
• "Hard Times" - Every bit as beautiful as the album version and even more stunning in person. Great way to close the first set.
• "My First Lover" - I whooped for this one; didn't think I was capable of that. Didn't feel as tight as the studio version, but still a good performance.
• "Revelator" - My God. Gorgeous vocal by Welch followed up with a jaw-dropping two-minute guitar solo by Rawlings. Rawlings' playing is possibly the best reason to see them live because he plays the living hell out of his guitar; you start wondering if he's going to make it catch fire. Crowd went completely wild for this one - as they should have.
• "Six White Horses" - Another track from the new album that I didn't love, but possibly the most fun track of the whole performance. "We came up with this routine in the privacy of our studio, not really figuring on having to perform it live," Welch commented. "Gets a little less embarrassing every time." Cue banjo, harmonica, knee-slapping, and clogging. Audience got a huge kick out of it.
• "Caleb Meyer" - Rawlings and Welch played the ever-loving shit out of this one, but the awful audio tech diminished the performance quite a bit. Their energy still came through and made the song enjoyable.
• "I'll Fly Away" - Closed the concert perfectly. Audience apparently didn't get that this is supposed to be a crowd participation number, though.

Take it from a person who saw them in a mediocre venue: their performance is transcendent and it would be foolish to pass up an opportunity to see them. Welch and Rawlings are simply excellent songwriters and musicians; they aren't an act that produces easily-consumed hooky pop music made for obnoxious trend-chasers or musically oblivious eighth graders. Their work is the kind that requires attention and focus to fully appreciate; give them that and they'll wow you.

>Sorry to jump-start my blog again with two posts on roughly the same subject. Been trying to write more and this concert is a big deal for me right now. Next post will not be about Gillian Welch, I swear.