People talk all the time about “the real deal” or “the savior of x genre” or “just what we have been needing”…literally all the time. Hell, I am sure if you go back through the past 3 years of articles here on this site you will run into something similar once or twice. Then there are artists who live on a plain that is higher than that. Those that leave it all on the stage, night after night. The folks who pour out brutal honesty and sincerity in their work and ask for nothing in return but for half an ear as you sit slumped over your micro-brewed IPA in some dim lit bar. Aaron Lee Tasjan falls into that camp and whether you are sipping on some ten dollar, twelve percent cask conditioned rarity or a PBR tallboy, he is an artist that anyone can appreciate and respect for his conviction. Last evening’s show at Atwoods Tavern in Cambridge was a clear indication of that.
Rolling into Atwoods the mood (and crowd) seemed light as the Tasjan and his traveling band were loading their stuff and checking on stage. By the time they launched into “The Trouble With Drinking” the place had filled and that first jam, groove filled and rocking, set the attitude and pace for an evening of extended jams that swung and moved the crowd as they closed in on the stage and were locked in.
The first set flew by what seemed like no time as Tasjan and guitarist-songwriter Brian Wright exchanged furies of notes back and forth throughout intros and refrains of their tunes. The rhythm section, rounded out by Keith Christopher and Chris Marine, while understated for most of the night, was the true glue that really held things together. Both of these gents were super tight players and on point. At a few points, the dead space in songs was filled with the soulful grooves by some really impressive bass lines from Keith, and the people rejoiced.
The second set kicked in with Tasjan and Wright taking the stage with an acoustic and an old Gibby ES-335. Wright played a few of his tunes and I was absolutely floored. I have given his latest “Café Rooster Sessions” a few spins and really enjoyed the simplicity of focusing on a few harmonies, minimal instruments, and deep, profound writing. Live was no different. At one point he asked if it would be ok to play something a bit more subdued, but not to worry, they would get back to the rocking stuff later. The crowd happily obliged and were handsomely rewarded as you could hear a goddamn pin drop in a typically loud bar. Tasjan played crowd favorite “Living Proof”, in a different way than I had heard before, but damn, each time it slays me. I imagine that tune being like ALT’s “Freebird” or something, but when you write a song like that I suppose you have to expect people are gonna ask for it, sometimes more than once in an evening.
The band quickly rejoined the two back on stage and after plowing through a handful more blues infused, Chuck Berry-esque rock n’ rollers with swagger, ended on a high note with the 66 Dollar Blues. Another testament to Tasjan is how he often times switches up the tenor and feel to his songs. He slowly picked his way into the song, easing into the first verse, and ultimately picking it up into the swinger that the tune was as a group of female bar patrons in front of the stage swung each other around and danced feverously to the beat.
Where Aaron has been known for his deadpan humor and quick wit on stage, tonight was all about the music and the banter and mid song dialogue, spoken blues was kept to a minimum. A keen focus on the interplay of musicians on stage and the magic that unfolds when players that truly seem to enjoy making music together are able to just unleash. And unleash they did.
One of the best shows of the year, no ifs, ands, or buts.
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Tasjan and crew are still in New England tonight in Providence at Firehouse 13….and its a Free Showcase. You would be a fool to not attend this show and to top it all off, our pal Haunt the House will join.