We have returned to the Golden Age of Wise Madness; Missing a day is unusual for me and I’m writing about live music; both are exceptionally good for my mental health. I’ll start by writing about Rachael & Vilray. They did a WFUV Marquee member show Tuesday night at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2. I’m not a Marquee member but I went as Jim’s plus one. I have always relied on the kindness of friends. It’s ridiculous what they’ll do for me. Don’t tell me that I deserve it. I’m not denying or asserting that, but everyone doesn’t get what they deserve and I appreciate my good fortune whether it is deserved or not. You’ll be happier if you appreciate what you have.
I went directly from school. My plan was to take a nap before the show but that didn’t work out. I thought the show was at 6 and suggested meeting at 5:30. It ended up starting at 7:00 but we kept the earlier time as neither of us had anything to do. I stopped for $1.50 pizza as I splurged at Katz’s the day before. I timed things exactly and as Jim told me would probably happen, they let us in early. That was great. We were the first ones there and grabbed the Statler and Waldorf seats. We pretty much are Statler and Waldorf, two curmudgeons. Alisa Ali from WFUV warned us to be good. She immediately noticed the resemblance. I only heckled once. I got a laugh. It was nice having an hour and a half talking to Jim and to say hi to some of the WFUV people. I am going to try and stop by the station for a visit during intersession. Thanks to volunteering WFUV was a home away from home. I miss the people.
I’ve known Rachael since I did the merch for Lake Street Dive when they opened for Crooked Still. I always did their merch. Rachael & Vilray (vill-ree) is a side-project. I first saw them at Amy House. Again, I have friends with benefits and that doesn’t mean sex. I’ve seen both Rachael and Vilray in the audience at her concert series, The House of Love. I hope the House of Love comes back from COVID.
I’ve R&V a few other times but now they’ve hit the big time and seeing them became more expensive and more difficult. Jim knows I love them so invited me. I have a confession to make, I prefer them to Lake Street Dive. Vilray writes songs that sound like they come out of the Great American Songbook. He’s today’s answer to Cole Porter. The songs are beautiful, perfectly crafted, and very funny. They are perfect songs for Rachael to sing, or is it that Rachael is the perfect person to sing the songs? It’s both, a match made in heaven. It’s not a naturalistic way of singing but somehow it comes off as natural. Someone said that her Rachael’s singing reminds her of Ella Fitzgerald. I hear Sarah Vaughn; her voice has that resonant bottom.
I compared them to Cole Porter and Sarah Vaughn, do I really need to say anymore?
As we were leaving I saw that Charles sat one seat over from Jim. I didn’t even know he was an FUV member. Carey and I met Charles 30 years ago at Christine Lavin shows. He and Carey became good friends.
I’ll leave you with some good music to listen to, last night’s Gord’s Gold. Take a look at this setlist.
# Artist – Song
1 Crooked Still – Wind and Rain
2 Lorena McKennitt – The Bonny Swans
3 Honor Finnegan – Swimming
4 Amy Speace – Stark As Stone
5 Tim O’Brien – Nervous
6 Jim’s Big Ego – Stress
7 Sweet Honey in The Rock – Gray Goose
8 David Massengill – Blind Man/Black Swan
9 John Fullbright – The Liar
10 Rainbow Girls – Roads Must Roll
11 Rod Picott – Revenuer
12 Steve Poltz – Frenemy
13 Suzie Vinnick – Shelter Me
14 Lynne Hanson – In On a Wing
15 Élage Diouf – Cool Fine Nice
Wise Madness 