I went to this show with Margaret Glaspy, a singer-songwriter-guitarist who I had not yet seen, and Brittany Haas, a renowned fiddle player, expecting something different than what I saw. I knew that Glaspy has a terrific reputation among my friends, and thought I would be hearing her music with Haas backing her. Instead, the two friends (who have known each other since childhood) sat on stage and treated us to what felt like a house concert.
Instead of performing songs written by Glaspy, they played mostly cover songs, ranging from the traditional (‘I Gave My Love a Cherry’) to contemporary (‘Front Porch’ by The Fundies – Glaspy, Haas, Rachael Price and Bridget Kearney).
Also unexpected was Haas playing guitar and banjo on more songs than she played fiddle. I was impressed with how good she is at those secondary instruments, although I would not have minded some more fiddle!
The show felt almost free-form, as if they did not use a set list. When they introduced what they feel is Roger Miller’s best song, ‘Last Word in Lonesome is Me’, they quipped about getting it; it took me a minute because I had to visualize the title, but it’s clever.
Margaret has an unusual, deep voice that took me a couple of songs to get into. Once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her.
They chatted with the audience as if we were in their living room, asking if anyone had been to Nashville (I think I was the only one who said yes) before launching into the Lovin’ Spoonful’s ‘Nashville Cats’. When Margaret introduced her song ‘Oh Lord I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again’, she joked with us about the title.
These young women are extremely talented musicians; I look forward to seeing them again, separately or together, performing their own music exclusively.
Click here to see photos of this show on Suze Reviews the Blues.
