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May 31, 2007
In love with LaVere
Café Nine in New Haven served up another fine show Wednesday night and, unless you were one of the 30 or so people there, you missed out on another gem.
Amy LaVere showed she is even more engaging in concert than on her albums, no small feat considering the level of talent she brings to her two albums, This World is Not My Home, released in January of 2006, and her new album, Anchors & Anvils.
I realize it isn’t easy for a lot of people to head to a nightclub on a Wednesday night, but surely there must be more than 30 people in New Haven and Fairfield counties who appreciate good music.
In an ideal world, LaVere would have achieved the same level of stardom as Norah Jones, whose fans, by the way, would have loved Wednesday’s performance. LaVere, however, would never be called “Snorah,” as some of the nastier critics have dubbed Jones.
Unlike Jones’ piano-based music, LaVere’s music is driven by the guitar, which she augments with her solid upright bass playing. On tour, LaVere, petite and attractive, is getting stellar guitar work from Mark Miller, the new bass player for country traditionalists BR549. Miller also contributed harmony vocals, which meshed nicely with LaVere’s dreamy voice.
LaVere touched on both albums in her set and added her take on Leonard Cohen’s “Tonight Will Be Fine” in addition to the covers she recorded on Anchors & Anvils, Carla Thomas’ “That Beat” Bob Dylan’s “I’ll Remember You.”
The 90-minute show ended on yet another high note with LaVere leading her band in a rousing version of The Byrds’ “Mr. Spaceman.”
It would have definitely been worth it if you had made the effort to get to Café Nine to see LaVere. You might have been a little tired Thursday, but you could have always caught up on your sleep over the weekend.
Posted by Sean on May 31, 2007 5:15 PM
