Recap: 5.20.2010 @ Mockingbird Cafe

Chance Fisher: 2010.05.20 – RECAP

 Hey everybody.  Before I write this next recap I just thought I’d introduce myself to y’all. My name is Brandon Kayda and I’ve been listening to Chance Fisher for just about a year. I’ve taken the spot as the article/show review/recap/etc writer for The Dirigible, and I appreciate the opportunity. Now, with that out of the way, on with the 2010.05.20 recap…

5.20 was a pretty atypical night for Chance Fisher, in a good way. Filled with exploratory improvisation and a few songs that haven’t been played in awhile, this show was definitely unique. However, the show was marred by sound obligations (they had to play quietly) which may have dampened their enthusiasm to play some songs (Plight of My Heart, for instance). Anyways, on with the show…

Opening the first set with the 33min combination of Cut off to Melba->Old Town Manitoba, the band warmed up their improvisational legs quickly as each song was jammed out further than the norm.

Cut off to Melba, a song we haven’t seen since early 2009/2008 was a surprise opener and set the stage for an interesting night. The song being essentially an improvisation let the band warm up their chops and get ready for a jam-oriented night. In total, this Cut off to Melba lasted about 15mins and included some great playing from Jud on guitar in the second half of the song. Everybody was on point as Joel led a smooth segue into Old Town Manitoba, which was one I had been anxious to hear for awhile. This version, clocking in at 18:06 did not disappoint.

Starting the jam at about 4:40 in, Jud and AKelly immediately led the band into some thick, dark, funk grooves which this song has become known for. Sam and Joel on bass/drums remained firmly in the pocket as Jud and AKelly led with hypnotizing lines around 7:50. At this point, it was well-known that this was no typical Old Town Manitoba as the band led further into dissonant, swampy funk grooves.

 Coming to a collective peak at around the 10min mark, the jam seemed to simmer down until about 11:05 where the band gets very quiet and Jud starts a D-Major jam. The entire band catches on this quickly as Joel plays very softly on the cymbals; Sam’s bass lines lead the jam, and AKelly begins a D-Major progression on the piano. At around 12:40, the entire band drops into the second half of this Old Town Manitoba strongly, with an eagerness you can hear through the tapes.

 As this jam progresses, Sam and Jud begin to climb further and further up on their fret boards, Joel follows suit, and AKelly is climbing octaves until the second segment of this jam reaches its peak around 15:20. The band then goes back into the Dm funk jam, which includes a particularly inspired organ section by AKelly, and this Old Town Manitoba ends, clocking in at a final time of 18:06.

After a brief interlude in Vigilante Restaurant, the onslaught of jams continued with Oh Jeremiah->Medicine Daughter.  This Oh Jeremiah, quickly abandoning its country/ blues rock sound, went straight for the jugular as Jud led this rendition with furious guitar playing, which was complemented by AKelly on the keys, who added a bit of dissonance to the jam. Oh Jeremiah was unfinished, instead leading into a brief portion of ambience not unlike the intro to Sane (which we’ll see later in the show).

Medicine Daughter came out of this and proved to be a rather atypical version. AKelly is very prominent in the “first section” of the song, with some unusual pentatonic-sounding runs in his solo, very interesting. The first portion of this song was jammed out much longer than usual, and even Jud led a solo for a bit.

The second portion of this tune starts at 5:05, and they ease into the jam at 5:40 with Sam plucking bass eagerly and AKelly providing interesting atmospheric sounds on the keys. Joel and Sam seem especially motivated as they add little variations and quirks to their instruments and build the jam nicely. Everybody is spot on at 8:50 as they head full-speed into the double-time ending of Medicine Daughter. After the outro section, the song concludes at 11:21.

Up next was Circles on the Ground, which was an interesting little bust-out to hear, definitely an enjoyable rendition. After that, a particularly raging version of Camba closed the set. This Camba was packed with the dissonance and girth that we have grown accustomed to, and it certainly did not disappoint.

The Word opened the second set, and its typical funk jam got turned upside down this night in what proved to be a great version of the tune.

Starting the jam at around 3:10, the band wasted no time easing into a solid, mean funk jam. AKelly was especially vocal here on the keys, and his traces of ambience helped to lead it into the percussion led jam that began around 5:40. From here, the band slowly quiets down, still in the normal “The Word” funk, when at 6:30 AKelly and Joel take the lead and Jud and Sam serve as backing. At 7:00, this jam is not unlike what you might hear during the drums/keys section of Crepes and Bananas, although Jud is accenting some lines in over the top. Around 8:10, organ washes bring the jam into more ambient territory as the Jud and Sam drop into the background yet again. Painting an abstract painting of sound, Joel and AKelly lead the jam until at 8:45 when Sam and Jud slam back into the forefront with some wah-drenched funk, which gets everybody back into rhythm as they begin the build onto the peak at 10:20.

Still funking along, Jud begins to lead the jam again with some rhythm chops and Sam and Joel are holding down the pocket nicely. At 11:30, Joel begins building further as AKelly pushes his way up the octaves. This is short-lived however, because at 11:50 they ease back into The Word chords and wrap the song up at 13:42. Overall, this was a fantastic rendition of The Word, it was very unique.

Aluminum Boy followed, and it was good as usual. I really like the lyrics in this tune. The lyrically-dark Food came after and it proved to be a great version to get the crowd dancing with its clav-drenched funk. Jud was especially hot during this song and proceeded to bring the house down while Sam and AKelly kept the funk going.

The next portion of the set was one big highlight, also known as Sane->He’s Gone->Jam->Water or Sea. This Sane rocked solidly, with an especially gripping jam section which was very uplifting and definitely served me well. The Grateful Dead cover He’s Gone, which is mainly sung by Joel, followed. This, much like the Sane that preceded it, was a particularly heart-warming version, with great vocals and a nice jam that followed. This He’s Gone led into a short little funk groove which eventually segued into what turned out to be a particularly interesting rendition of Water or Sea.

This Water or Sea, a genre-bouncing song in itself, did not waste time getting into the meat of the jam. As Jud played some fast funk licks, AKelly took front and center here as he took the song away from its bluegrass nature and into synth-filled electronica without remorse. This segment of the jam goes on for quite awhile, with the song getting more and more abstract as time goes on. Jud takes the lead role at 4:30, and solos for a bit while AKelly goes back onto piano. Eventually Jud leads the song back into the central theme and we return to the verses. From here the song goes its normal course and closes with the reggae-section (which I love) to finish out the song. This was an extremely entertaining version of the song – it got very atypical in a very short amount of time. I’d like to see Chance Fisher stretch this one out a few more times, as they seem to be onto something here.

After the intermission of Stock Report, an extended, wild version of Anika’s Brew served to close up the show. This Anika’s Brew was clearly inspired, and included an extended Jud-led jam in-between verses. Anika’s Brew was a rocking ending to an atypical, but good show.

Overall, 5.20 was a nice change of pace and I really enjoyed seeing the underplayed songs and the multiple big jams this night. Well done, Chance Fisher.

Set I:Cut off to Melba->Old Town Manitoba, Vigilante Restaurant, Oh Jeremiah->Medicine Daughter, Circles in the Ground, Camba
Set II:The Word, Aluminum Boy, Food, Sane->He’s Gone->Jam->Water or Sea, Stock Report, Anika’s Brew
~BK

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