8.7.2010 - Katie Herzig and Matthew Perryman Jones @ The 930 Listening Room

The 930 Listening Room in Louisville, KY was a very different venue from anything we've been to before.  It's actually located in an art gallery, that is in the same building as a church.  A pretty nice little place, even though we had to go through quite an iffy area of Lousville to get there.  The room that the show was in had a stage area that was raised about 3 steps from the floor, and nice rows of padded seating.

Larkin Poe opened for the co-headliners Jones and Herzig.  We've seen Larkin Poe a few times, opening for Brandi Carlile, and on the Cayamo cruise earlier this year, which I imagine is where they met Katie Herzig.  They are a couple of sisters, Megan playing the Dobro and Rebecca switching between acoustic guitar and mandolin, and an upright bass player (of no relation).  Their sound is a mix of bluegrass and country, and they have a really good stage presence.  The lead singer and acoustic/mandolin player, Rebecca, does most of the storytelling between songs, and does a great job of pulling the audience in.  This show was their last of a series opening for Katie.

Highlights from Larkin Poe's Set:
  • My Home
  • We Intertwine - from their new Spring EP, they are putting out an EP for each season this year.
  • I Belong to Love - Rebecca Lovell stated that this song is as happy as she gets
  • Suzanne - Rebecca said it took a long time to get the lyrics just right, as the song was about a woman coming between you and your man.  I believe the entire song consisted of the line "Suzanne, where you goin' with my man", but sung with real feeling
  • Bleeding Heart - a Jimi Hendrix cover
Up next was Matthew Perryman Jones - who, for the record, sounds uncannily similar to Griffin House.  It was just Jones and his drummer up on stage for most of the set, except when he invited Katie up to sing a song with him.  Jones has a great sound, typical singer/songwriter deep lyrics, with a twinge of melancholy in most of his songs.  He and Herzig are both part of Ten out of Tenn, a singer/songwriter group based in Nashville who each create their own music, and also support each other.  When they tour together, they benefit from each other's collaboration onstage, and expanding their fan base by drawing in the other's fans to shows and exposing them to the rest of the group.  Truely a great idea in an industry where it seems to be increasingly difficult to distinguish yourself from the crowd and get your name out there.

Highlights from Matthew Perryman Jones' set:
  • My Favorite Story
  • Breakin Out the Windows - from his album "Throwing Punches in the Dark"
  • When it Falls Apart - duet with Katie Herzig
  • Top of the World - a Patty Griffin cover, very poignant song
  • Only You
Katie Herzig's turn - we've seen her quite a few times - opening for Brandi Carlile, and also on Cayamo.  Her songs seem to be little enigmas - light and airy sounding, sometimes even with children's songs entertwined into thm, but with deep meanings and connotations.  "The Katie Herzig Trio" consists of cello player Claire Indie, and th multi-talented Jordan Hamlin, who plays accordian, guitar, clarinet, and who knows what else!  Katie played the longest set of the night, and probably one of the longest sets of anyone we've ever seen.  There was even a point where she asked the audience if they came to hear any specific songs, and then mentioned that she has a playlist which is more of a suggestion list.

Highlights from Katie's Set:
  • Oh My Darling
  • Forevermore - fairy tales interwoven
  • I Will Follow
  • Wasting Time - a newer song for the new album
  • Hey Na Na - written for the Sex in the City movie, but didn't make the cut
  • Fools Gold
  • Hologram
  • Sweeter Than This - one of our favorite Katie Herzig songs
  • Hologram
  • Where the Road Meets the Sun - with Matthew Perryman Jones - Katie told a story about the pair writing the song years ago, and they they wanted to do something with it and both of their computers had crashed in the meantime, losing lyrics and recordings, and neither of them could remember how it went.  Katie said one early morning as she was fallin asleep, she began singing the song randomly, and had to get out of bed, write down the lyrics, and email them to Matthew.  It was a really great song - we're glad she remembered it!
  • Wish You Well - seems to be the typical Katie Herzig closing song, sung with whomever she's performed with during the evening - meaning Jones and his drummer, since Larkin Poe had to leave right after their set.
It was a really great show, and aside from a stinky person sitting near us, the crowd was one of the best we've encountered to date.  Everyone was very respectful of each of the artists, and seemed to really enjoy the music.

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