CONCERT OVERLOAD: Live performance #868 - Tim Bluhm at McCabe's Guitar Store (March 31, 2019)

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Neither Tim Bluhm, the night’s headliner, nor the Coffis Brothers, the opening act, are family names, however – because it as soon as once more turned out – a family title will not be a prerequisite to nice leisure and top-notch musicianship.

I went to final Sunday’s present relatively unprepared, within the sense that I couldn’t title a single music of both of the 2 acts that have been scheduled to seem. When the Santa Cruz-based Coffis Brothers took the stage, I keep in mind considering “Go forward guys, shock me”. And shock they did, after which some. With catchy uptempo songs similar to “Dangerous Luck”, “You And Me” and “Higher Days”, they made prompt followers out of me. With out sounding by-product, their music delivered to thoughts the radio-friendly folk-rock of the seventies and perhaps there was a contact of Tom Petty there as effectively. I discovered their country-tinged rock & roll tremendously pleasurable even at first blush and, by the best way, Jamie and Kellen Coffis, the unmistakable leaders of the band, co-wrote all these nice songs.

The Coffis Brothers at McCabe’s

Band line-up

Jamie Coffis – Lead vocals, keyboards

Kellen Coffis – Lead vocals, guitar (acoustic)

Kyle Poppen – Lead guitar (electrical)

Aidan Collins – Bass, backup vocals

Sam Kellerman – Drums

The band sounded nice as they rocked the place – listening to them was pure pleasure. I significantly loved Kyle Poppen’s guitar enjoying and in addition Sam Kellerman’s understated drumming. Sadly, they have been allotted a enjoying time of solely thirty minutes. The
brevity of their set left me wanting for lots extra and I do hope to see them once more at McCabe’s, ideally in a headlining function.

Kellen Coffis, Aidan Collins & Jamie Coffis at McCabe’s

After a brief intermission, Tim Bluhm got here out with an acoustic guitar, sang “Do It Straightforward”, then introduced out his band. Proving that he’s a category act, Tim proceeded to introduce his musical cohorts earlier than anybody performed a single observe.

Band line-up

James DePrato – Electrical guitars

Josh Yenne – Pedal metal guitar

Dom Billet – Drums

Nick Bearden – Bass guitar

What adopted was an impressive set that consisted of songs from “Sorta Surviving”, Tim’s just-released new album, and some of his older numbers. The three cowl songs that he sang for us – Johnny Money’s “I Nonetheless Miss Somebody”, Merle Haggard’s “Kern River” and “Del Rio Dan”, a considerably obscure music from the repertoire of the Everly Brothers – additionally seem on “Sorta Surviving”. Aside from the covers, Tim wrote all of the songs that he sang for us and there weren’t any duds amongst them.

Tim Bluhm at McCabe’s

With a voice and phrasing which are completely fitted to the Americana style, Tim saved the present rolling together with largely up-tempo songs and minimal speak. A few of the songs I favored the most effective have been “No Means To Steer”, “Jimmy West” and “Squeaky Wheels”, all culled from “Sorta Surviving”, and “Clear Me Up”, an older Mom Hips quantity.

Individually and collectively, James, Josh, Dom and Nick deserve quite a lot of credit score for the success of the night. Enjoying like a real band, they offered excellent help to Tim Bluhm. I used to be significantly impressed with the band’s epic crescendo on “The Solely Answer”, the third and remaining music of the encore. Dom Billet deserves particular kudos for holding the decibel stage of his drumming in keeping with the intimate measurement of the live performance room.

Tim Bluhm & James DePrato at McCabe’s

Sticking along with his printed set checklist, Tim and his band performed for about ninety minutes and all of us went dwelling as glad prospects. General, I price this present as among the best ones I’ve ever attended at McCabe’s, and that is fairly a praise.

The set checklist

The top of the present – Tim Bluhm thanks the gang

The top of the present – Dom Billet (left) & Josh Yenne

On the finish of the present, I walked straight to the merch desk and acquired Tim Bluhm’s “Sorta Surviving” and in addition “Roll With It”, the latest providing of the Coffis Brothers – it all the time feels good shopping for music immediately from the artist.