Chicago s jam-packed and sold-out hometown trendsetter-center the this past Saturday, treating the devout (and a few head-shakers) to ruminations in realms folky, bluesy, and country-esque-- most adorned in unique percussion courtesy of Jerry Garcia look-alike Ben Massarella and experimental flourishes from pedal-pushing frontman (and potential Woody Allen stand-in) Tim Rutili.
Austin s (of fame) opened, featuring songwriter Red Hunter on guitar and a stage packed with nine junkyard percussionists-- including Califone drummer Joe Adamik and assorted Chicagoans-- hitting everything from pots and pans to jack-o-lanterns, garbage can lids, and a skeleton puppet. Recent signee and band followed up Hunter s ramshackle folkery with a fine set of polished alt-country tunes, lyrically sound and easy on the ears.
Califone took to the stage at last around midnight, playing a wide range of songs spanning their large catalogue and including selection and Psychic TV cover , from this year s d .
While a good third of the attending trickled out over of the course of the nearly two-hour set, those with the patience to remain greeted Tim Rutili s every murmur with rapturous applause. Apart from a few pleasantries, Rutili kept mum through most of it-- until some drunkard used tuning-time to shout something about a jam, prompting Rutili s austere countenance to crack momentarily for a sarcastic utterance: Fuckin Bob Marley, man!
Riotous laughs all around.
Although the Saturday night crowd proved a bit too chatty to allow Califone to fully cast their spell, those who came for the music likely went home haunted by it-- and completely satisfied.
Califone hop the pond for a week, then return to North America for an extensive tour next month.
Dates and more photos ahead.
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