Needs more jazz
There is a scene in an old episode of The Simpsons where Homer drinks a bottle of “Red Tick” beer, and wonders what are the ingredients. The answer, as we were flashed to the Red Tick factory, is a bunch of dogs swimming in a vat of beer. The technician tries it, and says “it needs more dog.”
Well, that all was a setup for a saying I had about The Horse’s Ha and their set at the Cowboy Monkey on Saturday: it needs more jazz (and was it really worth it?). The Chicago-based acoustic quintet really stood out as something special when they combined their folky sound with a jazzy style. That blend was the only thing they were able to do to cut through the noisy, uninterested crowd, as their music built to a roar instead of a whimper.
The band’s new album, Of the Cathmawr Yards, really focuses on the harmonies of Janet Bean and guitarist/vocalist Jim Elkington. And while those harmonies were still the focus live, they lost something that made them sound great on record. Maybe it was due to sound issues (of which they had some) or just a bad crowd (they were constantly fighting for attention), but their vocals lost the delicate beauty when they instead went for power. They weren’t powerful enough, though.
Despite their issues, their secret weapon was Elkington (pictured far left), and even though half the songs were sung by him, he sat facing away from the crowd. Maybe he is self-conscious, or maybe he likes leading the band, but he is a great guitarist, melding different styles into a unique way of playing that gives The Horse’s Ha a sound they can call their own.
And they made it their own when they tried the jazz. That’s when they really tried something new. There are plenty of folk bands out there, but ones that incorporate improvisation and riding a groove? There aren’t any, and The Horse’s Ha needs to corner the market while they still can.
Common Loon followed, and while most of the crowd came for The Horse’s Ha, the band played a strong set. While their music can get a bit precious at times, they can display a lot of power when they try.
The band works well when they rock out or write simple pop songs. If they decide to turn up the reverb and get lost in the sound, they go nowhere. Luckily there was more of the former, and let’s hope their new album (which they said is ready) shows this side of them.
Their set ended with a cover of Madonna’s “True Blue” that sounded like the prom song from the 1950s that I never got to experience because, well, I was born in 1986. It was touching though, bringing emotions out of the song I didn’t know were there.
Opener Angie Heaton was nothing to write home about. I have seen her folky, Lillith Fair-esque music live before, and I wasn’t impressed then. This time was a little bit better, but not by much. I get bored quickly by hearing only three chords with a mid-tempo strumming pattern.
There is emotion in there, that’s for sure, but they were heard best in her well-chosen covers. Otherwise, nothing really sticks out as anything great. As paraphrased from The Simpsons, “it needs more ‘oomph.’”
Photos by Eric Heisig
9 comments
“Their set ended with a cover of Madonna’s “True Blue” that sounded like the prom song from the 1950s that I never got to experience because, well, I was born in 1986.“
Maybe it’s a typo, but Madonna songs would have been being played at proms in the 1980s. Not the 1950s.
It’s not a typo. He’s saying that they made Madonna’s song from the 80s sound like it was from the 50s.
I get it now. Thanks.
John Hoeffleur
Eric, I look forward to hearing you perform your music.
Jim Kelly
Starting a review of this show with a Simpsons reference…priceless.
You’re entitled to your opinion, of course, but I can’t help getting a bit defensive of Angie. I enjoy watching Angie mainly because of her honest and clever lyrics, and seeing her play with her band is great fun. If you don’t like her solo “Lilith Fair-esque” sound (whatever that means) then check out the full band show. I bet they could overpower the fools jabbering in the back of the house. ;-)
Jim Kelly
That squirrel looks ticked.
See, I love Angie Heaton. That’s a fact. And Let it Ride, The Rumor Mill, etc. — man, these albums have helped define my decade. Plus, she personally gave me a piece of advice one year that simply changed me. So, I disagree with this review of her performance. I loved it.
But Eric is entitled to his opinion, you know? I, for one, would welcome a little more criticism in this little “scene” of ours, whether positive or negative. Of myself, as well, please.
As for you, Hoeffleur: I look forward to hearing you play music, too.
I think it’s a mistake for Angie to ever perform without Kurt, Charlie or me trilling back-ups on Pleiades.
Another thing that has always bugged me about Angie is that “Polly” is no shorter than “Carrie.“
I thoroughly agree with Eric’s general criticism about three chords, strumming, and mid-tempo arrangements. To the list I’ll add 4/4 time, verse-chorus structures, and convention generally. This criticism applies to any person who performs music.
It’s a good reason to abhor the blues.
Most Recent Music Comments
Nice article, love the Dead quote in the beginning. If they can get down here to Central FL I’ll definitely be heading out to the show. Some of my friends have finally stopped wincing when I say “jam band.“ I’ve now tried my best at more descriptive…
good call on that Herring recording, Josh. Love that version of Exit Music….here’s a clip of the Cinco de Mayo show (from about six months prior). As I recall, this Shakedown went on for roughly a half hour, while getting into the Trampled Underfoot jam in the…
sux
whats a zmick?
Here is a link to download the aformentioned 2007 show at Red Herring, a true gem from the early Zmick archive, again recorded by Ben Valocchi: http://www.archive.org/details/zmick2007-11-02.logitech
My biggest concern is that the free Caribou show at the Krannert is now not at the Krannert and no longer free. But then, I guess if that’s my biggest concern, then I’m doing pretty well—at least I still have potable water! Still, I would prefer it…
Who’s got the crack?
Any band that makes the effort to pay homage to ! = Metallica @ = Beatles # = 2pac $ = Moldy Peaches % = Grateful Dead ^ = Dave Clark 5 All in one show! (with Herb Alpert interpolations to boot) That’s what tasty jams is all about
THE CAKE IS A LIE
Most Popular Music Articles (60 days)
- Champaign Music Festival: Not that bad, honestly
- Pygmalion: Schedule announcement and more additions
- Pitchfork preview: I don’t care, I care, I really don’t care
- Pygmalion additions: final round
- Pitchfork review: So much style that it’s wasted (Part 2)
- Why music criticism is OK
- Hooray for everything
- Withershins: the hardest working band in Champaign
- Album review: Jay Bennett Kicking at the Perfumed Air
- Pygmalion schedule changes, Emeralds and new Erin Fein project added
Most Recent Comments
Illinois has simply had no luck at all in these Mizzou games. None. I think maybe we’re do for a couple of bounces to go our way. If we get one or two (or sever or eight) breaks, I think it’s a win.
Jason, Savoy could easily join the CPL tax district, which is probably closer to most Savoy residents than the Tolono library is. But my impression is that Savoy residents as a whole don’t want to pay the cost of the CPL (Tolono’s library taxes are cheaper), even…
Sorry, but I am lagging behind on updates to the map. Also, some construction projects were delayed from their original start date. On a more positive note, I am putting together a map of haunted houses in Central Illinois. I have a few plotted already, and I…
I’ve never gotten the privilege of all the services CPL cardholders get. I just want to be able to go out of my way to drive to the CPL to check out books, pay fines, maybe buy some coffee, and enjoy the library. None of those activities…
These days, there is more to using a library than checking out books. At one time, paying into the Lincoln Trails system probably would cover the expenses incurred by other libraries in the system. Now, with Internet, videos, coffee shops, wireless Internet hubs, etc., I suspect the…
(speaking as a Savoy resident) By paying taxes to support a member of the LTLS, we are paying our “fair share” to use any LTLS library—Tolono, Champaign, Urbana, etc. This is how library systems work. The 6% of CPL’s circulation represented by Tolono users is NOT significant…
I read Timbo’s argument. I think the key word is “speculating.“
I would be interested to hear more about the “word on the street”—how are individual hauling companies fulfilling their promise to recycle?
Timbo makes a smart, sound argument. Reread it.
I joined on 09-09-09 after living here over a year, and having to listen to my dad tell me how his best friend is, like, #27 or something crazy like that, and how said friend never lived further than 50 feet from the Illini Inn while going…
And, I might add, no one is being prevented from using the Champaign library. They are just being asked to pay their fair share if they are going to use it as their primary library.
The equation is pretty simple here. If you want social services, then pay the taxes required to run those social services. These things only work if everyone puts in their fair share. As a heavy user of the Champaign Library, I say bravo to this new policy.
Curtis Orchard is always good for an hour or three, especially if you have rugrats.
What is the increased marginal cost of serving a resident of Savoy or Mahomet? I suspect negligible. What is the increased revenue to be realized by this new policy? I suspect very little. Aside from these financial aspects, what are the most probable results from this new…
Looks like you are also all members of the killer sideburns club.
Thanks for the article, Ben. I was not familiar with this band until now and even though I won’t be able to attend the show on Friday they are now on my radar. A *good* jam band is hard to find, and these folks appear to fill…
Nice article, love the Dead quote in the beginning. If they can get down here to Central FL I’ll definitely be heading out to the show. Some of my friends have finally stopped wincing when I say “jam band.“ I’ve now tried my best at more descriptive…
@Annie: Yeah, my bad. That was the best part! Drinking + memory exercises = fun @Rob: According to Ask the English Teacher, “My dictionary says ‘drunk’ is an archaic past tense of ‘drink.‘“ We’re all about the new grammar around here.
Katie, have the residents of Savoy and Tolono thought about having their taxes raised a little to help their public library expand? That’s a possibility for them. And then everybody wins.
good call on that Herring recording, Josh. Love that version of Exit Music….here’s a clip of the Cinco de Mayo show (from about six months prior). As I recall, this Shakedown went on for roughly a half hour, while getting into the Trampled Underfoot jam in the…
Most Popular Articles (14 days)
- Camp Rantoul Report: August 20, 2010
- Withershins: the hardest working band in Champaign
- Champaign to close recycling drop-off center
- Pygmalion schedule changes, Emeralds and new Erin Fein project added
- The Burlington Coat Factory Mosque
- Meet the new blog on the block
- CU Pride Fest review
- Flatlander fundraising off to a tasty start
- The right thing changes from state to state
- Garbage doesn’t just “go away”
Recent Searches
- derby (118 Results)
- 1592 (7 Results)
- Susan Toalson (3 Results)
- Gabe (4 Results)
- Bond (97 Results)
- Bond (97 Results)
- Gabe (4 Results)
- bond (97 Results)
- bond (97 Results)
- dan schreiber (34 Results)
- gillespie (129 Results)
- Men Against Sexual Violence MASV (1 Results)
- 8684 (1 Results)
- Men Against Sexual Violence MASV (1 Results)
- great cover up doug hoepker (13 Results)
- great cover up (589 Results)
- C-U Circle (32 Results)
- 4130 (1 Results)
- elsinore (123 Results)
- elsinore (123 Results)
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
Events Calendar
Thanks for the article, Ben. I was not familiar with this band until now and even though I won’t be able to attend the show on Friday they are now on my radar. A *good* jam band is hard to find, and these folks appear to fill…