Music in the Park, Friday Night Review
June 15, 2015|Sarah Lemon | Music critic
Friday night at Music in the Parks is an interesting spectacle, to say the least. It beg with a perspective shift in the scenery, a small, outdoor venue with a family based audience, the show provided a welcoming atmosphere. With only a few benches and picnic tables, most listeners “set up camp” on blankets and towels, watching their children run around the field, probably oblivious to some of the heavier lyrics disguised by an upbeat tempo and major melodies.
The first song turned out to be a sound-check, which got the audience interested without even realizing the show had not technically started, so the show was loosely organized and “easy going.” It took just a few verses for heads to start bobbing and toes to start tapping along with the beat. The musician worked well with each other and their interpersonal rhythm was reflected in their performance. Whether it was a well-rehearsed, dedicated group or three friends who simply understood the balance between one another, the banjo, bass, and guitar sounded in harmony. All three of the men contributed to the vocals and the few harmonies thrown in added to the cohesiveness of the show. The toes, the heads, the happy ears, and the mile-high mood however, seemed to be a bit out of place in context with the content of the songs themselves. Most of the story-telling style lyrics fell along the lines of a broken heart, a loss of some sort, even death. One line seemed to stick out a bit more than the rest, although went unnoticed by the majority of the audience. “I killed the only one I loved because she wouldn’t marry me,” isn’t a line that would usually go along with that particular sound, or go over well with most audiences. This, of course, excludes the occasional, delusional Slipknot fanatic.
The violent, over reactive Appalachian stereotype seemed to be in full swing in that particular piece, but most others simply dwelled on heartbreak and disillusionment. A lost love, a cheating spouse, unemployment were all somewhat common threads between the “moral of the story.” Again, this did not disinterest the audience, nor affect the musicians in any negative way. Almost masochistic, the performers seemed increasingly more passionate with each song. It reflected the emphasis on the music itself; the show was definitely not meant to be seen, with a wooden stage, limited movements, and no special decoration adorning the set. It followed the “music is for the ears, not the eyes,” theme that real music fans fervently advocate.
The show came together nicely, and it was easy to overlook the few pitfalls, or awkward older mountain songs that a younger crowd might not enjoy. Perhaps it was a hipster type of enjoyment, but several young adults as well as families kept their support up until the kids got tired, or iPhones died. The older crowd that seemed just a little more interested sat back, but relished the evening just as happily as anyone else. It was an entertaining evening, although a few new amplifiers would not be unappreciated.
Help Received: none
Sarah Elizabeth Lemon
