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MyWeek in Music-Stripped Acoustic Showcase
by Scott Zensen

Another Fans perspective! Hi one and all who grace my page. I went to another show last night Wednesday 4/05/06 and was blown away by some of the acts. This one was called the Stripped Acoustic Showcase. I am not sure who organized this one? I think it was 91X, but I know for sure Marcia Claire was one of the hosts. I went to another big music show last Sunday and you can read about it at my 360 blog.This showcase was held at the House of Blues in downtown San Diego Now most of the venues that I go to see are coffee shops and bars that accommodate the artists as best as they are capable. Those shows are ususally more intimate. But there is nothing wrong with a little glitz. HOB is pretty big and they have all the bells and whistles, with fancy lights, gobo's and misters and smoke machines. Wow, of course in order to keep all that stuff on stage. The stage is way off the main floor and there are huge blowing fans that blow down and that keeps all that smoke (or mist) from coming down on the audience. But it also creates a very cold atmosphere like super air conditioning a lot of people were wearing the same coats and beanies and even a couple of scarves that they wore outside. Still it is a very professional atmosphere. Even with the balconies cordoned off for the night.

There were five bands playing last night. They were: Holiday and the Adventure Pop Collective, Berkley Hart, Gregory Page, Cindy Lee Berryhill and the Truckee Bros. Now anybody who knows me knows I love all live music. There is an energy that pulls you up and you end up enjoying whatever you are listening to whether its your normal style or music or not. This was one of those cases. I knew a few of the people I was coming to see and knew that I was expecting to see more folk or country style music. So I was apprehensive because anyone who knows me really well also knows I am sort of a hard rocker and country, although I like a song here or there is not my main thing. But Gregory Page changed that for me. I have written a few things about him on one blog or the other but he is the one (and my friend Gina who took me to my first show of his) is the one who changed my mind about this kind of music. I really like Gregory's style and songwriting; his singing is damn good too! So I had a slightly better outlook for this show and I was pleasantly surprised. Everyone who played was outstanding! I had to leave after the first song by the Truckee Bros. but they sounded pretty good too.

The night got off to a good start when Holiday and the Adventure Pop Collective were better than I expected. Everyone kept saying they were a twanging type of country (not a fav) but my friend Jessica told me she had seen them at an earlier venue and they had five in the band then and were much twangier. Now they have their own sound. A little like "The Charlie Daniels Band", but better if you ask me. The band is really multi-talented (except the drummer but he could really hit those skins) each were playing a couple of instruments each! One guy played a electric fiddle or is it a violin and the keyboards and he sang lead or back-up depending on the song. The other lead singer played guitar and it looked like a French horn, but I am not sure, I don't know every instrument. Their songs were lively and they had no problem jumping down to the audience and playing there? I am sure they gave the guys at HOB a heart attack having bad dreams of being sued.

Next came Berkley Hart. I had just seen them on Sunday and they weren't my favorite but they weren't mike'd very well there. They kicked the house in gear and did several killer songs. I didn't knoe Jeff was funny and got to see that side of hime. I really saw Jeff and Calman's talents shine tonight. I didn't really get to see that last Sunday at the Acoustic Alliance 12.

Next was the "Man" himself. Gregory Page he decided to do a more theatrical show than he normally does and he is normally a kind of presence on the stage without doing anything special. He came on with an English Top Hat and did a 30's style song (not his usual one) as a tribute to the passing of Buddy Blue it was very touching! Then he came on with his friends Ray Suen and another guy (name to be added later when I find out who he was, no body seems to know?) who played the keyboards. Gregory was in rare form and just kept belting out his tunes and was so happy it was sounding so good, because apparently he has played with both before but never all together. They did their allotted time limit and songs but Gregory feeling everything was clicking, asked for time to do one more song. And they gave it to him!

The next act was Cindy Lee Berryhill; here I was apprehensive again because I heard she was way country. But who cares she was great she really had us banging our feet and having a good time. She was joined on stage by bassist Marcia Claire and a drummer whom I didn't catch his name, as well as Jeff Berkley. Cindy really plays her guitar well, really well and she had us laughing and almost getting right out of our seat. And has the perfect voice for her style of writing if all country was like this then I would be a convert.

I didn't get to hear much of the Truckee Bros. What I did hear was great but I was on my way out the door, my friends had an early day tomorrow and I needed a ride. Well thats all, get out there and see these guys and when you do pick up some of their CD's. I'm out!

Ciao

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