Most people do constructive things when they can’t sleep. They clean, do laundry, take a few sleeping pills, maybe a swig of Nyquil, slam a few beers, pass the time on myspace or youtube….. Not for me. Nooooo way mister. I stay up late and write blog posts. Tonights topic: Cary Pierce, of JacoPierce playing a solo show at Bend.
The show I went to was the second sold out show featuring Cary at Bend in as many nights. The little listening room was more full than I have ever see it (significantly), and it was packed with dedicated fans. To illustrate what I mean by dedicated fans I’ll compare a common situation at live music shows: The artist simply asks “what would you guys like to hear”. At most shows you will have 3 or 4 people yell out their favorite song. The earlier into teh show they ask this question the fewer responses hey will get. This is because early=sober, and drunk=courage. Cary asked this question after his frist song, and there instantly were at least a dozen people calling out over two dozen different titles. These guys knew Cary’s work. Having the room this full with true fans, really set the stage for a cool vibe for the entirety of the performance.
To try to sum up the show with one word, I would have to choose a noun, and go with – energy. Carry is a jumping, spinning, stopping, twirling, pacing, grinning, strumming, belt it out from the bottom of your guts performer. There was more energy in this show, than any show that I can remember since the first time I watched a bunch of 60 year old men run all over the stage in the rain for 2 hours at the Cotton Bowl (Rolling Stones, Voodoo Lounge). There was also more crowd participation and singing along than any show I’ve seen.
One again, I’d recommend Cary’s show. People ask me if I recommend every show I see. Usually, if I don’t like the music or the show, I don’t write reviews. So don’t take all the recommendations as me being a softie. I’m as tough as nails I tell ya! GRRRRR. Rambling…once again. The show was fantastic. Cary was skilled with his guitar, but he is a singer. His voice has fantastic range and power. He is also a showman. His interaction with the crowd was a sign of a seasoned vet. on stage, and his use of guest singers for a few songs really added to the experience.
Bend Studio:
I thought that was kinda unusual: PLEASE ADD 4 AND 3, so I just answered 7.
Thanks for the pictures of Cary Pierce at Bend Studio recently. I like it when he calls me up to help him sing some fun stuff. I just never know when he’s gonna call me up so I play it by ear. We have fun on stage doing what we do so I’m glad you captured it with your camera. I thought your big lens was impressive, too. I’d love to look through your camera with that lens attached. I want to see those pores that Cary was talking about you taking when he saw that telephoto lens. Too funny, mister. Thanks for posting the pics of me and him (it would sound better “him and I” but that would be grammatically incorrect). I will keep a close eye on your upcoming photos so I can see what is running through your head. Take care, Zach. See you soon. Raymond