Tom Smith, Rob Siegel ~ 2023 March 25 ~ Javawocky Coffeehouse, Brockton, MA
Tom Smith (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Rob Siegel (vocals, guitar).
Scroll to below videos for a review of the show.
Video ... if a problem with viewing, go to Youtube and search by performer and date; the Youtube account is in the name "nicepace"
My Pennsylvania Heart (Tom with Rob accompaniment)
Damaged Goods (Rob with Tom on harmonica)
Review
Tom Smith has been a favorite folkie of mine since I saw him open for Kim and Reggie Harris at this venue in May of 2017, and he played a song that was so good that Kim and Reggie asked him to join them on stage at the end of their set and reprise the song so that they could sing backup. Rob Siegel was a new name to me, and he turned out to be another talented folkie who mixes in uptempo, fun songs along with numbers from the more serious side.
The two fellows were well matched in their outfits, both wearing plaid shirts and playing identical guitars. They drew lots and Rob went on first and played 25 minutes, followed by 25 minutes from Tom. They introduced one another, and both gushed about the talents of the other. After a short intermission, during which the substantial number of concertgoers fetched treats and coffee from the refreshment table, the pair came up on stage together, taking turns and sometimes playing along on each other's songs. Rob's last song was a humorous number, "Kittery Bridge," a true story about Rob's uncle who had a colorful way of celebrating the family's entrance into Maine on vacations long ago (*naughty language). The audience was enjoying themselves, and Tom got up for his final song, and said that he was planning on something serious, but he couldn't possibly after Rob's number, and he finished up with the laugh-out-loud-funny "Mahwah WaWa."
Let me take a moment to say that I thank my lucky stars that this under-the-radar concert scene exists. Spending $400 for a ticket and sitting a city block away from the performer might appeal to some concertgoers, but not to me. It saddens me greatly that Javawocky is ending their run after some half a century of presenting folk music; this is because the Unitarian church that hosts the coffeehouse is being sold.