A surprisingly good sized Monday night crowd got a taste of the Calgary Folk Fest, July 25 as Eilen Jewell and bandmates, lead guitarist Jerry Miller, drummer/ vocalist Jason Beek and upright bassist Shawn Supra stopped by the Geomatic Attic for their first Lethbridge visit, coming back from the Calgary Folk Festival.
The appreciative audience enjoyed the Boise, Idaho based musician’s mixture of catchy country, honky tonk, blues with just a touch of jazz music.
She advised the audience to let her know if she was being “too workshoppy” as she was participating in workshops at the Calgary Folk Festival which entailed a lot of talking about her songs.
But nobody minded her numerous stories of her songs and of living in Boise, Boston, New Mexico and Alaska.
The first set included several tracks off of her latest CD “Sundown Over Ghost Town,” including the title track.
Her band was tight. Lead guitarist Jerry Miller received enthusiastic applause after almost every one of his twangy guitar solos, as he nodded in appreciation for the accolades.
Drummer Jason Beek locked in with steadfast bassist Shawn Supra as he caressed a variety of toms with sticks, brushes and toms and sang background vocals from behind his kit, which added a lot of depth to Jewell’s laid back, and sometimes twangy, whispered, hippyish vocals.
She introduced ‘Rain Rolls In’ by telling a story about growing up in a small town with not much to do and appreciating the little things like rain.
“Santa Fe” and “Rio Grande,”a couple of songs about cities she had lived in were highlights. As was one about her home town “ Where They Never Say Your Name.”
She tapped into her country side for a couple of songs including a song inspired by Jimmie Rogers as well as a cool cover of Loretta Lynn’s “Fist City.”
One of my absolute favourites was a love song called “Bang, Bang, bang,” about “what a bastard cupid is” which featured crystalline vocal harmonies and whimsical vocals.
A pair of songs about living in the Southwestern United states, “ Rio Grande” and Santa Fe” followed that.
“ Rio Grande,” added a Mexican feel to a set which already featured a lot of musical variety, touching on old country, jazz, honky tonk and blues music.
They ended their first set with the Upbeat “ Sea of Tears.”
Their second set explored more of her older work including her 2006 CD “Boundary County.”
But just because the audience was so receptive, she decided to try out a couple of ’50s blues songs, noting she was working on a new project which would likely incorporate them.
They allowed her tight band to strut their stuff for a few bars. In addition to another hot guitar solo, Beek played a succinct drum solo as well.
“ But we don’t know what we’ll do with them yet,” she said.
Their cover of Lucinda Williams’ cover of a Sleepy John Estes song “ Drop Down Daddy,” another bluesy number they already recorded followed that.
Her song “Mess Around,” was a Memphis blues tinged highlight early on in the second set as was the more country stylings of “ Dusty Boxcar Wall.”
