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March 7, 2008
Coco concert at FTC
I went to see bluesman Coco Montoya at the Fairfield Theatre Company Thursday night and I must say I left a little confused. Did people drop $42 to see opening act Johnny A. or to see the headliner?
I left the office a little late, so Johnny A. was already on stage when I arrived at the 7:30 show at a little before 8. The Boston-based guitarist led his trio through an extended set of instrumentals, which were both clever and engaging.
He did some very imaginative covers of Jimi Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary” and Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman,” as well as some interesting originals.
The crowd thoroughly enjoyed his time on stage, but it just went on way too long for an opening act. Montoya didn’t even hit the stage until nearly 10 and, on a weeknight, that’s way too late.
Montoya also had the misfortune of technical difficulties at the onset of his show, which was plagued by nasty feedback and monitors that weren’t working right. The crowd was growing increasingly restless as the bugs were worked out.
For those unfamiliar with Montoya, he’s an electric bluesman of the highest order, having served time with the late great Albert Collins on his way up. He’s also worked on a few projects with Derby resident Debbie Davies, another Collins alum.
Montoya is on tour to promote his latest album, “Dirty Deal,” and, once he got going, he was mesmerizing. The man can flat out play and he matches that with an incredibly soulful voice.
That was why it was kind of sad to see members of the audience leaving early. He deserved better. More to the point, he deserved to go on at a decent hour. Maybe there was something going on backstage that I’m not aware of, but the supposed star of the show should not be hitting the stage nearly 2½ hours after the concert’s start.
I must admit that, as much as I enjoyed Montoya’s performance, I couldn’t stick it out to the end, either. I was supposed to meet up with a friend to go over plans for an upcoming Boston trip, so at 11:15, when the concert should have been long finished, I left.
I just wonder what Montoya, after battling through the show’s early problems, thought when the house lights went up and he noticed that half of the crowd had departed. I hope he didn’t take it as too much of an insult, but what can you do? Some people just can’t stay out all night and get up early for work.
The late start wasn’t fair to Montoya or the people that shelled out the money to see him.
Posted by Sean on March 7, 2008 6:26 PM
