by Adam McGrath
The Dawn Drapes (photo credit, Adam McGrath)
The Dawn Drapes topped a bill of what I dubbed “modern mountain music” Wednesday night at World Café Live. The combination of local and visiting acts most definitely crafted an Appalachian vibe with a mix of folk and rock.
Comprised of songwriters Michael Sanzo (keys, guitar, vocals) and Daniel Rice (guitar, vocals) along with drummer “Eggy” Gorman, The Dawn Drapes were closer to the rock end of the spectrum, building solid jams with a combination of guitar reverb and bass clef piano. There was even an alt-jazz vibe on some of the songs from their new album, She, available on Bandcamp.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Sanzo and Rice, taking turns on lead vocals and harmonizing when appropriate. The unison guitar and piano parts were especially effective. However, both vocalists were rather soft-spoken, a characteristic that was magnified by the major flaw in the band—Gorman only has one volume of drumming: loud as f**k.
The heavy-hitting backstop left no room for nuance or dynamic in the hour-long set, which started with quieter songs before expanding into more guitar-driven tracks. The discrepancy was something I couldn’t ignore.
August John Lutz II (photo credit, Adam McGrath)
Back on the folk side of things, I was excited to see August John Lutz II of Levee Drivers, about whom I had heard many good things, but that excitement quickly turned to disappointment. I’ve learned to be skeptical of artist lineups for World Café shows, and Lutz’s set was rushed after he missed his original slot.
Lutz’s acoustic guitar was too loud, overpowering the female vocalist and slide guitarist accompanying him. It was unclear whether they were part of Levee Drivers, as Lutz name-dropped the sound guy but not his fellow artists onstage. None of the songs really grabbed me, and the tempo was too fast, not providing the catchy boot-stomping you’d want from this genre. Based on this performance, I honestly can’t imagine what all the buzz is about.
The Keys (photo credit, Adam McGrath)
The Keys is a deceptive name for the solo act of Boris Paillard, a quirky Frenchman who made his way down from Canada. His set was more performance piece than concert, full of rapid-fire observations and jokes. His rambling songs, characterized by muted guitar strumming, only occasionally landed on a catchy melody. I do have to give it to him, though; his art is alive. Impromptu lyric changes that inserted Philly references and silly dance moves kept the crowd entertained.
The gem of the night was opening act Bernhardt Family Band. Jerry and Kate Bernhardt have been making waves in the Philly scene as of late, and looked genuinely thrilled to be playing for a room full of friends and family. Kate has a hell of a strong voice, and Jerry’s harmonies and minimalist guitar lines gave her plenty of room to soar. They really capture the essence of modern folk-rock, and this is the act I want to see again.
Bernhardt Family Band (photo credit, Adam McGrath)
