I don't often say something like this, because I don't want anybody to feel bad, but if you weren't at the M Bar Sat. Feb. 14, you really missed something -- Jordan Katz being hilarious and sustaining it throughout a whole number.
The lineup for the evening was Eric, Adam, Jordan, Mark McConville on pedal steel and electric guitar, Ken Beck on cojone and a variety of shakers, and Jillinda Palmer on accordion and piano.
First up was "Union Maid," with Jordan introing on trumpet, switching to banjo for the song, then back on trumpet for the outtro. Adam was on harmonica, Ken on cojone. Mark's pedal steel added a lot of twang. Adam and Eric harmonized on vocals. Jordan played a different outtro than usual, with Adam on harmonica and Ken on tambourine complimenting the screaming trumpet.
2. A new song by Eric about "American Idol" specifically and being on TV in general, with kind of a gospel flavor. Eric was on lead vocals and acoustic guitar (as he was throughout), Jordan on electric uitar, Adam on harmonica, Mark on pedal steel and Ken on cojone. I think the song is called "Once I Get on the Idol" or "Prime Time."
3. Guest Laura Silverman (who'd performed with the Thrilling Adventure earlier in the evening) came up to duet with Adam on "Never Going to Let You Go." Jordan was on banjo, Mark on pedal steel, Ken on shakers, Adam was on harmonica when not singing, Jillinda on big accordion and Laura on mini-accordion (this may have been a jumjumbo, but she called it a mini-accordion, so I'm going with her definition here). There was a mini-accordion and harmonica duet on the bridge. The song is upbeat and funny.
3. Common Rotation backed up Laura for a comedic song she wrote about losing pets, "Lost Dog/Friend." Adam was on autoharp, Jordan on banjo, Jill on accordion, Ken on cojone. Eric and Jordan really hit the strings hard for this one.
5. "I'll Be Waiting for You," with Eric on lead vocals (and of course acoustic guitar), Jillinda on piano, Adam on glock and backup vocals, Ken on shakers, Mark on pedal steel and Jordan on a very smooth trumpet for this elegiac, guitar-driven rendition.
6. Annie Savage come up on stage for a playful duet with Eric on "Tonight You Belong to Me," with Adam at piano, Jillinda on accordion, Mark on pedal steel, Jordan on trumpet and Ken on shaker.
7. "No Love at All," with Jordan on banjo, Jillinda on accordion, Mark on pedal steel, Ken on shakers and Adam and Eric trading lead vocals for a rendition with a heavy twang. Jillinda's accordion highlighted the bridge.
8. Adam said Jordan would be doing a duet with Kate Micucci, who'd previously performed in the Thrilling Adventure earlier. However, Kate simply didn't appear. Jordan said he really didn't want to do it, everybody else urged him to go on and finally, looking very reluctant, Jordan played the first bit of "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off." He then, looking increasingly miserable, sang some of
his parts of the song. Mark Evan Jackson (of "Thrilling Adventure") suddenly took the stage and broke into a "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" rap, with Eric and Adam on vocal backup, at which point I realized this was all rehearsed, so it was either a great fakeout or I'm very gullible (I do not discount the possibility of the latter). Jordan actually got in MEJ's face with the trumpet for some of the rebuttal lyrics. The rap was great, but was really sold it were Jordan's facial expressions. It was like one of those Amex commercials -- priceless.
9. The band went straight into "Bitter Honey," with Jordan on banjo, Jillinda on piano, Adam on harmonica, Mark on electric guitar, highlighting some notes, and Ken on cojone. The segue straight out of the rap number was terrific. Eric sang his heart out -- it sounded like his microphone blew out about midway through, but he just belted so strongly that it didn't matter.
10. The off-mike number was "You Always Hurt the One You Love," with Adam and Ericon lead vocals, Ken on shaker, Jordan on banjo, Mike on harmonica and John Di Maggio on barbershop "bom bom bom" vocal bass backup.
And that's the set report
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