Bluesfest: Dirty Projectors

Following Bradley's main stage workout, I wandered over to the River Stage. That's where Dirty Projectors were getting ready to rev things up with some left-of-the-fial indie rock. They were a bit more rock'n'roll this time, as compared to when I saw them open for Grizzly Bear at Barrymore's.

Drummer Michael Johnson and (I think) Haley Dekle check the mics.



One, two, three ...



Apart from frontman David Longstreth, I think Amber Coffmann is the only member who was at the Barrymore's show.



Unless I'm much mistaken, this is super, super new (at the time, anyway) keyboardist Olga Bell.



Longstreth gets a grip.



Extra Amber!



Singalong action, plus Nat Baldwin! Baldwin came through town early in the year to do a solo gig at Raw Sugar.



It was a bit warmer this time around!



Dirty action!



Amber sings!



Guitar action!



Amber sings again!



Projecting action!



Percussive action!



The shouty bit!



The other side of the stage ...



Then it was off to see Super Chikan.

To keep the story short

It doesn't take a lot of people to fill up Raw Sugar, but I think it was even fuller than usual for the February 19 show headlined by Nat Baldwin. To get these shots of opener Landon A.R. Coleman, I walked around behind the counter.

Landon sings, Tobias handles the low end.



Here's Nat, who plays in Dirty Projectors.



And, er, that's it!

• Show reminder: Purity Ring and AGOR perform at Cafe DeKcuf; Maladroit, Brixton Robbers, Robots! Everywhere!! and The Valveenus rock Mavericks; The Sean Duhaime Trio play the Rainbow; The Bruised Egos hurt their feelings at the Elmdale.

Make it a double

My travellings yesterday took me to Raw Sugar for a double bill featuring local folk artist Landon A.R. Coleman and Dirty Projectors member Nat Baldwin. I'm not sure what kind of crowd was expected on a Sunday night for two performers not on a whole lot of folks' radar screens, but the cafe was pretty well-packed. I got there late and watched most of Coleman's set from near the door. As you can see he was joined by Tobias Meis. He asked if people liked Neil Young, then played Buffalo Springfield's Down To The Wire.


Landon A.R. Coleman at Raw Sugar, February 19, 2012

He also had the sister of his sister-in-law (or something like that "We share a niece" he said by way of explanation) to sing on one of the tunes.


Landon A.R. Coleman at Raw Sugar, February 19, 2012

I didn't get much closer for Nat Baldwin's set, but then conditions weren't going to be improving for photography anyway. As you'd expect from one man and a double bass, it was quite minimalist - so the  cover of Arthur Russell's A Little Lost did not come out of left field.


Nat Baldwin at Raw Sugar, February 19, 2012

"Take off your shirt!" one audience member cried as he adjusted his duds to suit the temperature. "Buy my record!" replied Nat.


Nat Baldwin at Raw Sugar, February 19, 2012

A very nice show and about the most attentive crowd I've ever seen.

• Show reminder: The Johnstones, Mean Tangerine, Hello Beautiful and Freshly Cut play Mavericks; Scally Cap Brats, Soul in Stone and Lost Youth perform at the Rainbow along with some burlesque courtesy of Bourbon & Spice,  and some blues-jazz by Chase & Gregg.