The Kennedys ~ 2018 May 5 ~ South Shore Folk Music Club at the Beal House ~ Kingston, MA
Band Personnel: Maura Kennedy, rhythm Gibson guitar, vocals; Pete Kennedy, Fender electric guitar, Rickenbacker 12 string electric guitar, ukulele, vocals.
Set List
Life Is Large - Dharma Cafe - Southern Jumbo - Fireflies - She Worked Her Magic On Me - Galveston {Glen Campbell} - Wild Honey - Mad Russian - Riot in Bushwick ... intermission ... Ninth Street Billy - Rhapsody in Blue {Gershwin} (on ukulele) - When I Wish Upon a Star (on ukulele) - Walk Right Back {Everly Brothers} - Umbrella - Cayenne In My Coffee - Be Silent No More - Safe Until Tomorrow - Don't Talk to Strangers - medley including bits of Not Fade Away and A Day in the Life ... encore ... Stand
Videos
Walk Right Back
Be Silent No More
Review
The Kennedys' new album, Safe Until Tomorrow, wasn't available at the show, but the duo took pre-orders for the album and played five songs from it, all well received by the audience, all showing the range and depth of Maura and Pete's songwriting.
Pete and Maura seem to be branching out musically with this new set of songs, with a gospel sound to "Be Silent No More" (with lyrics by Maura's frequent collaborator, poet B.D. Love), and a Texas swing number, "Cayenne in My Coffee." Other songs have a familiar jangle guitar sound, enhanced by Pete's 12 string Rickenbacker in the case of "Safe Until Tomorrow," a song dedicated to caregivers. The two opening songs, "Life Is Large" and "Dharma Cafe," very familiar to Kennedys audiences, were given a different, bright sound by the use of this gorgeous guitar. Maura commented that we were in for a treat because the guitar "seldom leaves the house."
Having heard "Don't Talk To Strangers" several times, and also possessing the digital download of the song, I have decided it is the best song The Kennedys have ever recorded. This is a big claim when the band has songs like "Stand" and "Life Is Large" (both played tonight). The new song combines a terrifying true story from Maura's childhood with a plea for fairness to immigrants; when little Maura got lost in an unfamiliar place she had to rely on the kindness of a stranger to get her home, and the immigrant of today has to rely on the kindness of Lady Liberty to get her to a new home.
Pete and Maura know how to put on a crowd-pleasing show. The new songs combined with old favorites and a gaggle of fun covers to really run the range of Americana and folk rock. Pete's guitar playing was really on tonight. If you closed your eyes you'd swear there was a bass player up there as well as a lead guitarist. These two talented musicians really don't need a band, as Maura's rhythm guitar, miked satisfyingly loud, provides all the rhythm section they would ever need.
One of the strengths of a Kennedys show, besides the musical variety, is the banter. Both Pete and Maura are entertaining and informative with their song intros, and they are concise. A fun treat tonight was a completely improvised ukulele version of "When I Wish Upon a Star," following Pete's goofy uke rendition of the Gershwin classic "Rhapsody in Blue." It was a warm night, with signs of spring all over including a door left open to the night. Both musicians were dressed for it, with Pete decked out in a paisley shirt with vest, and Maura resplendent in a floral sundress.
This was my second time at the South Shore Folk Music Club. It's a nice venue, easy to find off Rte. 3, with plenty of parking and enough comfy folding seats for a good sized audience. The stage is big and high off the ground. There are yummy deserts and coffee for sale, and a rotary phone on the wall on the way to the restrooms. The emcee announced, however, that the music series will be moving to a new venue next season, and that this is their last show at the Beal House. I hope the new venue will be just as nice!
More Kennedys
Here is a page with a handy list of links to all pages on this website with content relating to Maura and Pete Kennedy.
Click for 2018 Concert Page with links to all 2018 concerts ... Click for Main Concert Page with links to all years