Congratulations to Bill Dutcher for
continuing to organize the monthly (approximately) "Modern Acoustic
Guitar Night" at 2 Co’s Cabaret. They are always jam packed with
great guitar music and very entertaining – usually consisting of two
other entertainers beside himself. And, much to this writers appreciation
he always provides the listeners with a variety of styles and talents. As
was this concert.
I’ve written glowing reviews about Bill Dutcher several times
before (many you can find on this web site,) so I can’t really add
anything to the accolades I have said before - other than an applause for
never seeming to be having a "bad day." All of us that attempt
to make music from guitars know that some times the fingers just don’t
seem to work as well as they did the day before. I’ve heard many
professional players in concert that just weren’t "cooking"
the way they did the last time I heard them. Bill seems to be the
exception to the rule on this subject. I’ve seen him many times in many
different venues, and he always seems to be at the "top of his
game." Bright, alive, energetic, kinda nervous and jerky in between
tunes as he selects, de-selects, and re-selects his next guitar to play,
constantly tuning them (thanks, Bill) and messing with his effects –
but, always produces some great finger style guitar playing when he starts
to play.
It was my first time hearing Neil Jacobs play. He plays the
daylights out of a 12 stringed guitar – in what they call a Gypsy
fashion. Very tasteful, yet brash in his approach to the strings without
being overly loud. (Sometimes guitar players like to substitute
"volume" for "talent." Mr. Jacobs allowed us to
appreciate his talent.) My only complaint (which is the same with most
modern acoustic compositions) is that sometimes his arrangements had too
much repetition. We could all learn a thing or two from Chet Atkins where
he admitted many times that it wasn’t always fun changing a verse to a
given tune each time through it – but, it is necessary from the
listeners point of view. All in all, though, Neil is a very accomplished
guitarist and very entertaining.
The evening, however, belonged to the absolutely amazing talent of
young Michael Kelsey – brilliant guitarist, singer and phenomenal
stand up performer. He employed the use of several effects and digital
play-back devices (like Bill Dutcher and Jim Volk do) to lay down some
great guitar riffs, and then set off around the room with a remote headset
(somehow linked back to his play-back device) and a set of drum sticks to
provide wild percussion from anything that could make noise: walls, drums,
tables, bottles, the stage – most everything that couldn’t move.
Returning on-stage to finish up the piece with some real-time fab guitar
playing and singing that belongs on Broadway… Just incredible talent
exploding on-stage for his audience’s pleasure.
What a show. Thanks, Bill, Neil and Michael…..
Palmer Moore – Organizer
Ohio Fingerstyle Guitar Club
