Mountain Stage Radio Show

You know when you’re at a party, and a friend tells a story that you’ve heard at least a couple times before? But you laugh your butt off anyway, since you like the guy so much and because with each retelling the embellishments are more over the top?

That’s the way I feel when Jeff Daniels performs what has become his “Where Did My Wife Go” Blues. At this point in its life cycle, a 28’ RV from Lloyd Bridges, two bags of snacks, and a theology student from Princeton are just a few of the accoutrements of the story (in addition to the wife). And even though it had to be at LEAST the third time I’d heard the tale, I still laughed so hard that tears rolled down my cheeks, at the Mountain Stage Radio Show performance during the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.

The Mountain Stage Radio show is sponsored by West Virginia Public Radio, and the episode recorded in the Power Center will air later this month on WHFR, public radio out of Dearborn. The show is Prairie Home Companion-esque, with host Larry Groce reading snippets, bios, and sponsorships during set changes. That’s Francis the recording engineer at the recording boards, back stage. In addition to Jeff Daniels, Catie Curtis performed several songs, including one she co-wrote titled “People Look Around,” which won the grand prize this year at the International Songwriting Competition.

A sample of the award-winning lyrics….

When the water is rising and there is no higher ground,
You can wave your hands up on the roof,
But you might be left to drown.
In the streets of New Orleans; a makeshift funeral pall,
Here lies Vera, God help us all.
And the truth is bigger than these drops of rain, falling.

Antje Duvekot, a German-born folkie with a beautiful voice, was also on the bill, as was Duncan Sheik, who has earned much acclaim recently for writing the music for the Tony-award-winning musical Spring Awakening. But honestly, I’d just as soon hear him sing “Barely Breathing.”

The Empire Strikes

The highlight of the evening was the set by Cat Empire, this crazy band from Australia with a rather unfortunate name. I don’t know who these guys are, but they woke up the crowd in the Power Center! (video clip) Six members playing a mix of instruments, including one who was literally smokin’ on the trumpet, and a kick-ass organ player. And the music? Whacked. Genre-defying. High-energy. I heard Latin. I heard funk. I heard jazz. Loved ‘em!

Cat Empire’s only shortcoming was vocals. At one point, my friend turned to me and asked, “can you understand anything that they’re singing?” Maybe it was the Aussie accent, or perhaps something to do with the levels set for the radio taping, but both men who took lead vocal seemed like they could work on making their pipes stronger. But you know what? when a group is so pretty to look at, this sheila will cut them some slack.

("sheila" reference too cheezy?)

In the lobby I bumped into Jessica, John, Nick, and Sarah, young friends who work at Kosmo in Kerrytown, and Cat groupies. Count me among the converted, too!