Marshall Crenshaw with Ray Mason opening ~ 2004 March 20 ~ Narrows Center For the Arts, Fall River, MA
Review
Concert Going Partner and I were spending a special weekend on Rhode Island's Aquidneck Island, and for a treat we thought we'd revisit the venue we had recently discovered, the Narrows Center For the Arts in nearby Fall River.
We saw that Marshall Crenshaw was playing there and thought we'd give his live show a try. I have a few LPs by Marshall and enjoy his talented singing, songwriting, and guitar playing. But we were less impressed with his live show. He came out on stage, sat down on a stool, tuned his guitar, adjusted his little hat, and said to the audience: "Okay, we'll start with the hit and get it over with."
He proceeded to play the toe-tapping, tuneful "Someday, Someway," to enthusiastic cheers from the appreciative audience. He played for about an hour and a half, and while his playing and singing were excellent, we didn't like his attitude. For the entire time it seemed like performing was an imposition, and he'd rather be doing something else. His lack of stage presence contrasted starkly with the previous performer we'd seen at this venue, the witty and entertaining Graham Parker.
Another performer Marshall contrasted with was the opening act tonight, Ray Mason. When we first came in and sat down, Ray was setting up his equipment on the stage for his opening set, and we wondered who the long-haired hippie guy was. Turned out the "old hippie" was a singer/songwriter from western Massachusetts who has a droll wit, an abundance of literate and melodic songs, and a cheap electric guitar (a Silvertone) from the old Sears Roebuck department store. He played a thoroughly enjoyable half-hour set and entertained with some funny stories between songs. After the show we visited the merch table and picked up a couple of CDs by Ray.
Although today's headliner was a disappointment, the opening act made up for it, and sometimes that's just the way it goes with live concerts. You never know how much you're going to like a performer until you actually go and see them.
More Ray Mason
Interested in my other Ray Mason reviews? Here is a page with a handy list of links to all pages on this website content relating to Ray Mason solo, the Ray Mason Band, or Ray's other band The Lonesome Brothers.