For a few years now, I've been attending -- usually with MomVee and her husband -- the John Wesley Harding's Cabinet of Wonders shows at City Winery.
I've been a fan of John Wesley Harding's since his 1990 debut album, Here Comes the Groom. The Good Liars, which included Pete Thomas and Bruce Thomas of The Attractions, backed Wes back then. Many of the cuts on that record have the feel of Attractions-era Elvis Costello, but the album includes the unmistakably folky "Things Snowball" (a song that I love and that I love to sing in the voice of Peter Case who co-wrote and sings on the song) and "The Red Rose and the Briar."
I've seen Wes live several times over the years, including shows at New York's Bottom Line, The Fast Lane in Asbury Park, a show at some venue in Seattle that reminded me of a college classroom, the old Internet Cafe in Red Bank where he had to tell the baristas to stop steaming milk during his set, and one other time in Red Bank as part of WBJB's Songwriters in the Park series. Those were all shows with his various backing bands -- The Good Liars, The Radical Gentlemen, The English UK -- or solo acoustic sets.
The Cabinet of Wonders, on the other hand, is kind of a variety show. Wes will do a few songs to open the proceedings, but then he turns things over to a bevy of guest performers whom he introduces with a poem. I've attended Cabinets that have included performances by Eugene Mirman, Sarah Vowell, Ted Leo, Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield, Edie Brickell, Josh Ritter, The Spinto Band, Punch Brothers, Nicole Atkins, Eleanor Friedberger & Britt Daniel, Peter Buck, and another backing band called The King Charles Trio made up of members of the Decemberists. The bill usually includes one or two authors who read from their work. I've heard readings from Patrick McGrath, Haley Tanner, Rivka Galchen, and Myla Goldberg.
Last night's line-up included Dan Zanes, comedian Leo Allen, authors Amy Sohn and Peter Carey, Fred Armisen, Hospitality, and the legendary Graham Parker. Going all the way back to the way he introduced himself to the world on Here Comes the Groom, you could say that John Wesley Harding owes a lot of his musical career to Graham Parker; and his happiness at being able to perform "Local Girls" with Parker came through last night.
You can hear bits of some of the recent Cabinets over at NPR, but get out to one of these things if you can. Go with some excellent company as I usually do. You'll likely get to see an act that you already enjoy, performing in a relaxed, free-form environment; and you'll almost definitely discover a band or an author that will bring you happiness for years to come.
Wow. That one was longer than usual.
Anyway, rock on...
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