Club 47, Viva the Hot Stove, and tips

CLUB 47 LIVES ON, AND VIVA THE HOT STOVE

Two marathon shows took place this past Sunday – the 50th anniversary gig of Club 47 (now Club Passim) at the Brattle Theatre, and the Theo Epstein/Peter Gammons extravaganza, Hot Stove, Cool Music, at the Paradise Theatre. Both featured a seeming cast of thousands and lasted in the vicinity of five hours or more, testing one’s patience but also going beyond one’s expectations.
Timing made it impossible to complete each show, so I opted for the first three hours of the Club 47 reunion, then nearly the same time at Hot Stove. Nary a dull moment was felt at either, but I’ll admit to musical overkill at the end of it.
The Club 47 show was flush with lifelong hippies whose talents, remarkably, were still often intact. Singer-songwriter Chris Smither was his standout self (calling himself a “new kid’’ compared to the elders) and his easygoing grace on guitar continues to amaze. So did the duo of Jim Rooney and Bill Keith on a vital version of the Rolling Stones’ “No Expectations.’’ And let’s not forget the modest talent but great spirit of Carolyn Hester, the winsomeness of Banana (who went on to back Mimi Farina at the Newport Folk Festival), the ageless gospel of the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers, and the crusty Al Kooper’s ever-deepening blues brilliance.
The Hot Stove event was more of a madhouse. Where you could hear a pin drop at the Brattle, you were thrust into a giant party at the Paradise. Highlights included Lori McKenna’s thrilling set (does she ever have an off night?) and Bill Janovitz singing The Band’s “It Makes No Difference.’’ And Peter Gammons’ Allstars were a far-reaching gang this time, including Little Feat’s Paul Barrere, J. Geils Band keyboardist Seth Justman, singer Kay Hanley, Mighty Mighty Bosstone Dicky Barrett (blasting out a hot version of the Geils tune “Give It to Me’’), Epstein on guitar. and Elan Trotman (who normally backs Bronson Arroyo, who played before I arrived) on rocketing sax solos.
The energy kept right on coming with Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck’s hard-rock cover band, French Lick. They opened with a Georgia Satellites tune and never turned back. I slipped out around this time, but was encouraged to hear that the Hot Stove experience this time raised $250,000 for Epstein’s A Foundation to Be Named Later. A good job by all.

ROYAL CROWN REVUE: The neo-swing era was revived earlier this decade and you have to put the Royal Crown Revue right at the top of it. I caught their recent show at Scullers Jazz Club and it kept building in excitement throughout, even if there was no dance floor for fans to expend energy. Led by cool-cat singer Ed Nichols, the Royals ripped up the room with a virtuoso display of fast-charging swing, enhanced by a three-piece horn section. The repertoire was handsomely varied, from the opening strut of “Walking Like Brando’’ to Dizzy Dillespie’s “Salt Peanuts’’ and a newer tune, “El Toro,’’ that charged with a polyrhythmic frenzy that marks this excellent band. Catch them next time through.


CRITIC’S TIPS
Edwin McCain – at the Paradise Rock Club on Thursday, Jan. 10. The Southern rocker fronts an acoustic trio this time around.

Radio Kings – at Toad on Thursday, Jan. 10. One of Boston’s best blues-rock groups has reunited, so be primed for a high-octane night.

Casey Desmond – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday, Jan. 11. Desmond is the new It Girl around town, witness her cover story in a recent issue of Improper Bostonian. Come see what the fuss is about. She’ll play the middle set and rising talent Sarah RabDAU (yes, that’s her spelling) performs afterward.

Laura Vecchione – at Johnny D’s on Friday, Jan. 11. It’s not everyday that a great country-rock talent tries to emerge from Boston, but Vecchione is doing an outstanding job of it.

Laurie Lewis – at the National Heritage Museum on Saturday, Jan. 12. Lewis is a connoisseur’s bluegrass star. Worth the trek to this museum in Lexington to see her.

Soulgrass – at the Regattabar on Saturday, Jan. 12. Soulgrass not the coolest name in the world, but it’s aptly descriptive of this fusion jazz-bluegrass act, starring Bill Evans and all-world picker Sam Bush.

Spider John Koerner – at the Plough & Stars on Monday, Jan. 14. The legendary acoustic folk-bluesman used to play the Plough all the time. He no longer lives in town, but it’s great to see him back at his familiar haunt.