I made a joke yesterday about Waxahatchee's "Grass Stain," saying it was one of the few songs that I, barely a guitar player at all, could cover. Its guitar part is simply the picked out notes of the power chords D5, A5, G5, E5. I didn't mean it as a dig at Waxahatchee. One of the things I love about Katie Crutchfield's project is that I can learn her songs simply by watching her play them on guitar. Musically, her songs are all very simple; but there are few people that can write or sing with an honesty like hers.
Last night Crutchfield brought her short, "solo" tour to Asbury Lanes where she was joined by Keith Spencer, Radiator Hospital (aka, Sam Cook-Parrott), and her sister, former bandmate, and former housemate Allison.
Katie Crutchfield did a set that included songs from both of her Waxahatchee LPs. She played the simple melodies and chord progressions while Spencer, almost hiding at the rear of the stage, embellished things with his Telecaster. On some of the new songs, she played keys while Allison joined her to add vocals. Katie Crutchfield has promised a new direction for the next Waxahatchee record, and it would appear that keys and maybe some electronic sounds will be part of that. She was more relaxed than I'd seen her in the past. Maybe a break from touring and a fresh excitement over new material are having a positive effect.
Allison Crutchfield opened the evening playing songs from her recent -- and quite good -- Lean Into It EP with help from Sam Cook-Parrott on bass. The songs also have an electronic focus with synth and programmed beats, but the skill for pop songwriting that she and Cook-Parrott have displayed on their other projects is still there.
Cook-Parrott then did a set as Radiator Hospital, joined by Allison Crutchfield on vocals for a few songs. Radiator Hospital has been prolific over the last two years, and the set showcased Cook-Parrott's knack for lo-fi, bedroom pop. "Your Boyfriend," a standout track from last year's Something Wild, was a request and got a nice reception.
Waxahatchee was the highlight of the evening, though. The new songs, not being guitar-centric, had a different feel from her past work; but Crutchfield's songwriting and voice -- especially when doubled with her sister's -- are the real hallmarks of Waxahatchee. Maybe I'll have to go out and get a keyboard, so I can learn these songs when the new record's out.
Here are some of the shots I got last night. The rest are at Flickr.
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