Tom Rush with Matt Nakoa ~ 2019 December 3 ~ The Cotuit Center for the Arts ~ Cotuit, MA
Tom Rush, guitar, lead vocals; Matt Nakoa, piano, guitar, vocals; Monica Rizzio, guitar, fiddle, vocals (special guest, a few songs).
Set List
Making the Best of a Bad Situation - Hot Tonight - You Are My Moonshine {performed by Matt Nakoa} - Won't Be Back At All - Old Blevins - Urge For Going {Joni Mitchell} - How Can She Dance Like That - Voices - Drop Down Mama {Sleepy John Estes} - Lightning {performed by Matt Nakoa} - Memory Song - Siena's Song - Panama Limited ... intermission ... Ladies Love Outlaws {with Monica Rizzio} - The Dreamer - Life Is Fine - Sunday {performed by Monica Rizzio} - Pretty Paper {performed by Monica Rizzio} - If I Had a Boat {Lyle Lovett} - If You Will Love Me / Lullaby In E - Lost My Drivin' Wheel ... encore ... Who Do You Love {Bo Diddley}
Videos
Scroll down past the videos for review.
Urge For Going
If I Had a Boat
Who Do You Love
Review
You can't get much more folky than Tom Rush, whose relaxed musical presentation makes you feel like you're sitting in his living room listening to some of the best melodies and most thoughtful lyrics of all time. He got his start in the early '60s at the legendary Club 47 in Cambridge, MA, performing traditional folk, his own compositions, and fresh interpretations of songs written by other folkies (Joni Mitchell especially). More than fifty years later, this format is still working for Tom and his adoring public. Tom admitted that as a child he listened to songs on 78, and, he said, now he IS a 78.
Tom's no one trick pony, musically. His songs include a generous helping of blues as well as some laugh out loud funny selections ("Memory Song"). Tonight he was accompanied by pianist Matt Nakoa, who added fantastic musical depth to most of the songs. Tom did a couple of songs with his acoustic guitar as the only accompaniment, and they were great, but having Matt play along on the piano raised the music to a higher level. Matt also performed two excellent songs of his own, one accompanying himself on guitar and one on piano, while Tom was taking a break. Local singer/fiddle player Monica Rizzio sat in on a couple of songs during the second set and also provided a break to Tom and Matt by performing two of her own songs. Although she's popular in the local area, her two solo numbers were not up to the standards of the rest of the show.
The Cotuit Center for the Arts has music only occasionally; it is primarily a space for live theater. It is also an art gallery, and concert goers spent some time viewing the current art show while waiting for the doors to open. Seats start to slope upward in the third row, and there is a balcony with one row of seats providing a good view of the stage.
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