An Evening With Melissa Ferrick @ Schubas Tavern In Chicago

SCompRacer

Victor (halo), his wife Jessica, my daughter, her significant other and I just got home from Schubas Tavern in Chicago. Schubas concert room is an intimate setting that holds ~ 150 people, ½ of them seated and the other ½ standing. The room has great acoustics. We had seats in the front row. Melissa Ferrick can take you on an emotional roller coaster ride with her quick witted lyrics, passionate voice and guitar playing. I don’t care to go to big concerts anymore but love small venues like this. If you have a chance to see her in person, go for it. Some pics I took with Victor’s camera appear below.

dkg999

Good venue for live music. I make the trek down there whenever Martin Zellar has a show there.

halo

This all started for me after I discovered Ani Di Franco @ the Chicagoland Polkfest (Thanks Brock). Ani released a new CD shortly after the PF and then began touring.

In the process of getting tickets for her Chicago show I found out that Melissa Ferrick was opening for Ani. I purchased Melissa's new CD "In the eyes of Strangers" so I'd be familiar with her work. This CD knocked me on my a$$. It is phenomenal! I shared it with Rich and I think he was equally impressed with her.

I was really looking forward to seeing her live when she opened for Ani in September and she did not dissapoint. After her set she announced she'd be back in Chicago on November 3rd. No doubt I was going to see her.

So fast forward to tonight -

We got there early (its a GA show) and wound up in the front row!

Nicole Reynolds opened and got the small crowd warmed up (it was actually cold in there).

After that Melissa's raw energy practicly set the place on fire! One woman and her guitar. I'm having difficulty finding words to describe the performance. Awesome just doesn't seem to do it justice. It wasn't not stop ENERGY either. There was humor, there was anger, there was sadness, there was passion, and there was a comraderie between Melissa and the audience unlike anything I've experienced before. Maybe magical would be the word. There was electricity in the air and its still with me as I write this. The small venue's acoustics were fantastic. I was absolutly blown away. Thanks Melissa.

Anyone interested in catching her live I cant reccomend her highly enough. If you can't catch her live do yourself a favor and get a couple of her CD's.

Her myspace page: LINK

Here are the upcoming tour dates:

Nov. 4, 2007 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall 8PM AGES: 21+

TIX PHONE: 414-276-7288

Nov. 5, 2007 Ann Arbor, MI The Ark Mary Gauthier 8PM TIX: 734-761-1451

AGES: ALL
Nov. 7, 2007 Vienna, VA Jammin Java 8PM

TIX: 703-255-1566

AGES: ALL
Nov. 16, 2007 Asbury Park, NJ The Stone Pony 8PM

TIX: 201-507-8900

AGES: ALL
Nov. 17, 2007 Goshen, MA The Institute for Musical Arts 8PM WEB: www.ima.org

TIX PHONE: 413.268.3074

Jan. 26, 2008 Albany, NY WAMC Performing Arts Studio Chris Pureka 8PM

Demiurge

Then you guys should check out Andrew Bird. Plays everything himself.

Shubas is a great little venue where a lot of great bands play before they get invited to play at the Metro and other larger places. Saw the Decemberists there twice a long time ago.

bikezappa

Glad you had a great time at the club. I also go to a small jazz club. I noticed that no matter how small the club ALL the entertaners must us a microphone and amp and speakers. That is very regertable because I'm sure the live voice or instriment would sound more natural without the mic, amp and speakers.

I talked to the owner of the jazz club about this and she agreed and always got nervious when the sax player started to connect the mic and speakers. Not needed. The sax is pretty loud. Anyway she said that no one would perform with out the mic, amp and speakers. Exception was the piano player.

Where is real LIVE music played anymore. NO electrons please if live.

schwarcw

It's a real challenge for an entertainer to play "naked" in front of an audience. There is nothing to hide behind, one voice and one instrument. It's an opportunity for the musician to showcase their talent or go bust trying.:(

Nice photo's and information Rich and Victor!!!:D I'm glad you folks enjoyed the evening. Did your group have a designated driver??:D

halo

Hi Carl!

Nah, we weren't all liquored up or anything. We took seperate cars anyway.

Got filled up on Polish food @ the Jolly Inn before the show - talk about absorbing alcohol! :D

SCompRacer

Well, there is clean and dirty amplification. She was clean and clear.

Carl, my drinking in excess days are long gone. I had one beer and bought a round for a pair of alternate lifestyle gals that sat and chatted with us. One was hitting on Victor, or was using him to get closer to Jess.:p:D

halo

SCompRacer wrote: »

Well, there is clean and dirty amplification. She was clean and clear.

The opening act had a little distortion but even when Melissa was going all out it was crystal clear.

SCompRacer wrote: »

Carl, my drinking in excess days are long gone. I had one beer and bought a round for a pair of alternate lifestyle gals that sat and chatted with us. One was hitting on Victor, or was using him to get closer to Jess.:p:D

Ya, her partner was a little insecure I think. She was very nice (really hot too :D). We forgot to get a photo with her, doh!

SCompRacer

halo wrote: »

The opening act had a little distortion but even when Melissa was going all out it was crystal clear.

They did change mikes along with some other gear for Melissa. Maybe you didn't notice cause you was looking at the exposed leg flesh on the gal with the torn & tattered string jeans.:D

Ya, her partner was a little insecure I think. She was very nice (really hot too :D). We forgot to get a photo with her, doh!

My daughter and her mother don't like it when I appear in pictures with gals other than them.:eek::D

halo

My daughter and her mother don't like it when I appear in pictures with gals other than them.:eek::D

who said anything about you being in the photo? ;):D

SCompRacer

halo wrote: »

who said anything about you being in the photo? ;):D

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

halo

SCompRacer wrote: »

Maybe you didn't notice cause you was looking at the exposed leg flesh on the gal with the torn & tattered string jeans.:D

Her name was Tiffany

schwarcw

SCompRacer wrote: »

I had one beer and bought a round for a pair of alternate lifestyle gals that sat and chatted with us. One was hitting on Victor, or was using him to get closer to Jess.:p:D

Ooooooooooooh! I'll bet Victor was up for a little threesome maybe???:eek::D:p

halo

schwarcw wrote: »

Ooooooooooooh! I'll bet Victor was up for a little threesome maybe???:eek::D:p

Me? yes . Jessica? no .

heiney9

Sorry I couldn't make it, glad it turned out to be a great time. It really sounds like would have enjoyed it. Live female/acoustic music in a small intimate setting is where it's at.

I made a note of her and will seek out some recordings. I have a lot on my list to explore these days. My brother has turned me onto a few other female artisits of this type too.

Keep me in mind for anything in the future Victor. If I'm ever in your neck of the woods I'll look you up. I have cousins that live just outsude of Joliet and I remember going thru Plainfield on the way.

H9

bikezappa

If the room has great acoustics you don't need the electrons. I remember sitting dead center in a room and the singer's voice was coming out of the left speaker. The right speaker must have died. Any way, nobody but me seemed to care even after I told them during the break.

Naked singing, that's a good expression.

SCompRacer

Brock, if recording quality is a must for you, In The Eyes Of Strangers is one of her better ones. She even mentions that on the CD insert.

Like Victor mentioned, if any of the Rockford Audio Society is ever down this way, let us know. Even folks not from Rockford.;)

halo

heiney9 wrote: »

I made a note of her and will seek out some recordings.

As Rich mentioned "In the eyes of Strangers" is an excellent recording. We bought 4 of her other offerings @ the show (out of 13 total). "Live @ Union Hall. Brooklyn, NY" & "70 people @ 7000 feet (live)" should be right up your alley Brock. So far there isn't anything by her that we don't like. "Made of Honor" is fantastic but its only available via iTunes. The links posted go to cdbaby but amazon has a more complete list of her stuff.

heiney9 wrote: »

Keep me in mind for anything in the future Victor. If I'm ever in your neck of the woods I'll look you up. I have cousins that live just outsude of Joliet and I remember going thru Plainfield on the way.

H9

She announced that she's coming out with a new album so I'll let you know as soon as I know anything.

Keep me in the loop on other suggestions as well please.

Anytime your going to be in Chicago Brock (Aaron, Doug, etc.) drop me an email a week or so ahead of time - be happy to have you over. Not just for an Eros demo but maybe revisit the VR-2's, and some vintage AR-2ax's as well.