I was not aware of Peter Bradley Adams before a friend whose opinion I trust mentioned that he was attending Peter’s show, and I decided to go as well.
This was a well-sold weekday show, with the audience full of long-time fans. As has happened at a number of previous shows, I was seated with one of those fans which enhanced my enjoyment of the show. She told me that not only are his songs wonderful but he is extremely photogenic (she was right on both counts).
Peter is described as being folk, pop, and Americana, which is accurate, although I would simply say he is a singer-songwriter who crosses genres. He has a lovely voice that works well with his songs.
He plays guitar, but has support from Lex Price who plays a 1930s tenor guitar and Molly Parden (it is hard not to type Dolly Parton even though Molly neither looks nor sounds like Dolly) on backing vocals. I had never seen a tenor guitar that I recall, and was fascinated by its four strings and the sound Lex coaxed from it. He is a fantastic guitarist and I hope to see him again, perhaps in Nashville. Lex had ‘Flat Maya’ hanging from his mic stand – Maya is his daughter and he brings this with him when he travels.
One of the songs they performed, ‘Family Name’, was written for but not used in a Robert DeNiro film. It is their loss because it is a lovely song. Another song, ‘I Cannot Settle Down’, contains the lyrics “Somewhere in this lonely world/There is a place that I belong” which sent chills down my spine. Other songs were ‘The Longer I Run’, ‘One Foot Down’, and ‘Full Moon Song’. I believe that last is the song my table-mate said is her favorite.
Opening the show was Molly Parden. Molly is based in Nashville, as is Peter. She was comfortable on stage and the audience appeared to enjoy her set; I know I did. A lot.
Click here to see photos of this show on Suze Reviews the Blues.
