Monty’s Krown has cleaned up nicely since I was last there. A lot
of the grime is gone and there’s a swank paint job that decks the walls —
walls that reverberated with what I hope is a new trend in Rochester music: alt-country. This Saturday night hootenanny was with
Blue Jimmy, Burning Daylight, and Footage and the music was fantastic.
I walked in as
Footage was walking off, their equipment in pieces.
Blue Jimmy’s show is
genuine roots-rock with just enough slick to hook fans
who don’t think they like roots-rock. Their four-part harmonies snake
beautifully through the bluegrass and the instrumentation is tight. Guitarist
and ex-GFI nob-twiddler Greg Gefell
twangs like a Telemaster weaned on Travis and Gatton.
Warming the bandstand
prior was Burning Daylight. This trio has some fantastic songs. Guitarist Nick
Bullock handles his electric guitar with a more acoustic-strum approach, moving
the open chords around the neck with an almost-sloppy, jangly
ease. I could draw a parallel between these guys and
the Old 97’s but I wonder how many honkies around here would understand. That’s
why I’m supporting this new trend. I’m sure we can eventually pound it into the
ground as well, but for now it’s just goddamn exciting.
Among some of the
colorful characters gnawing on the roots that night was Low Ton chief Andy Schmitz. It seems old Andy is
starting up an acoustic alt-country outfit and naming it Old Boy. You heard it here first, sports fans. It’s a trend, I tell
ya.
Saturday night was my
first-ever trip to The Roost in Henrietta to catch Sean Patrick McGraw, Upstate boy gone south. McGraw calls Nashvegas home. He’s got a publishing deal,
he’s been on TV’s Nashville Star,the works.
In a cowboy hat that
looked like it got stuck in the dishwasher, McGraw countrified a few covers
like The Boss’ “Fire” and “Pink Cadillac” and Hall & Oates’ Sara Smile for the boot-scooters on the
dance floor. McGraw certainly has crossover appeal with his rock-pop approach
to country. That’s because regardless of the beat or the amount of twang,
everybody loves a smooth baritone with a hint-o-drawl.
— Frank De Blase
This article appears in Jan 18-24, 2006.
