The Wailing Jennys 3/2/2010

This show was added to the Freight & Salvage schedule late, after the Friday 3/5/10 show sold out so early. Then I dilly-dallied around and failed to get a ticket for the Tuesday 3/2/10 show before it sold out in advance too. Even though I'm not that well-versed in the band's sound, I decided I was going to see this show and went to Berkeley as early as I could after work. I walked the line couple times looking for a spare ticket. When I got to the end of the line, Liz & Amy F walked up - I wasn't surprised to see them but wasn't aware they were coming either. I hung out with them for a few minutes before setting out again to buy a ticket if I could. In a few minutes I found Patrice and asked her if she knew anyone with a spare ticket - YES! three steps away was the score! I presented exact change and merrily went back to Amy & Liz. Meanwhile Joan showed up and our impromptu gang for the evening was assembled.

Its by no mistake that this band could sell out in advance the new 440-seat Freight - twice in the same week. Their harmonies are incredibly perfect and they haven't toured at all for 1 1/2 years. Their instrumentation is interesting - for example, a song might include bass, fiddle, accordion, and mini-drum-kit. Often the instrumentation is minimal as the voices made the chords so perfectly, almost everything else seemed more percussive or there for a rhythmic touch rather than chordal support. In a few short years, their "This is the Sound of One Voice" song has almost reached "classic folk" status. There's one guy in the band who is plays fiddle and they don't give him a mic to talk. He adds a nice touch and seems to blend well with the band but its kind of interesting that the band has chosen to add him and his instrument as the non-singing band member. Two of the others especially do extra duty, Nicky, mother of seven month-old twins, sings many of the tough middle/low harmony parts while simultaneously playing a snare and soloing on a harmonica held in a holder. Ruth, the soprano, switches between clawhammer banjo, bodhran, accordion and guitar. Now thats talent *and* resourcefulness! Besides the sounds, the words were darn good and all are good songwriters. I really liked several of the "new songs" and I plan to get a copy of the new CD which should be out later this year.

It seemed like we knew bunches of people in the audience, who, on a Tuesday night, almost all stayed for both sets. Karen K, Charlotte, Gary and Karen's new beau were in the last row of the house. Patrice and Tony, Deidre and Alec, Connie D nearby. Heather S is a friend of the band and was selling merch for them and taking photos. Some people we know who love harmonies and perfect timing should have been there but weren't. Wish I could do it all over again on Friday but that will have to wait until they come back again. When we saw them a few years ago at Strawberry, I kind of missed their impact. Amy made a recording there of their performance and she gave me a copy on CD. I'll have to track that down, seems like I saw it somewhat recently while trying to organize the CD collection. Sure glad I scored that ticket and could spend a great evening with my friends. Its a little surprising how high Freight tickets are becoming - $26.50 for tonight was pricier than most.

The last song was one of many a cappella pieces, sung by the three women in a perfectly silent house without amplification. Throughout the night, under the soft light of the candle-like chandeliers, the crowd was totally hushed, silent, even a few beats just after a song finished. It felt like a trio of angels singing in church.