Adam Ezra Group continued a series of local CD Release Parties last night for their new disc Daniel The Brave. And, as always, the show last night at Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, New Hampshire was a killer performance from this neo-hippie band from Boston. The group kept the crowd energized and enthusiastic with their selections from their new disc Daniel The Brave as well as with many of their older tunes and a few surprise cover tunes.The Adam Ezra Group percussionist who goes by the sobriquet Turtle played several alluring patterns throughout the evening. He sets the vibe for the show by keeping his organic pitter patter interesting, hip, and lively. Turtle was particularly brilliant and creative when was slapping two two by fours together to backbone a number with something unique.
New song “Sacred Ground” moved forward with a huge lumbering rumble of acoustic guitar and percussion fun. The rhythmic patter was spicy, varied, and involving. Ezra finessed his easy going philosophy of life with his carefree vocal.
Another new tune, the humorously titled “Desperate Plea From The Heart Of A Shit-Head” focused on a frantic moment in Ezra’s life. He was desperately trying to appeal to an old girlfriend to get back together even though she was moving to the other coast to marry her new boyfriend. It was an engaging look at someone who is figuring out things too late. Ezra’s earnest approach sounded sweetly innocent and naïve, especially as it was wrapped in Josh Gold’s warm swirl of percolating accordion chords.
“Takin’ Off” was its usual glorious street wise philosophy conveyed by Ezra’s raw earthy vocal.
“Keepin’ On,” also from the new album, got its energetic lift from Ezra’s speedy vocal delivery over Gold’s gentle piano tinkling. Drummer Alex Martin and Turtle drove this onward with speedy slaps and with help from Nelson Leong’s bass runs. Ezra’s harmonica zest kicked in another layer of color and texture. The song will likely be another landmark in Ezra’s lexicon of songs as its elements all came together with a special quality that gave it a magic carpet ride motion.
New touring musician Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki added many laid back textures when appropriate but he also made some songs more alive and electrifying with his exciting bowing action on up-tempo portions.
Ezra and his crew usually play all the way through without a break but after announcing that the Tupelo seats were too uncomfortable for his audience’s asses, he called for a time out. He came back and sang the beginning of “Silent Night Holy Night” before turning it into something that honors the Jews who don’t celebrate Christmas. The beginning the holiday favorite was beautifully rendered by Ezra’s deep, rich sandpapery vocal and that made it all the more amusing when he casually altered it.
New tune “Rescue” showed how much expression and feeling Ezra could get out of his acoustic guitar, down tempo, gentle picking, buttressed by Gold’s light, sublime elegant piano work. Their subtle touches speak volumes about their level of musicality and musical integrity. They can create a powerful sense of mood by hitting the right notes, even if only a few times, to make you feel involved with, enveloped in their songs. And Ezra didn’t just sing his verses about green grass, he coaxed them out of his soul with his seriously solid timbre. This singer-songwriter is like a great actor who can feel what a character is feeling and brings it up to the audience.Ezra brought his mother up on stage to duet on a folksy Christmas theme, and she showed him up a bit. Her formal training shone through with precise, high flying phrasing.
“Katie” floated by on the rhythms from Ezra’s harmonica and Gold’s bouncy organ chords. Ezra sustained a vocal note beautifully here, like a performance art, precise and loaded with meaning, feeling, depth in his fulsome handsome vocal aplomb. The song has been around for a while now, and it still swings perfectly and warmly around the chorus of “turn your eyes around.”
The Adam Ezra Group isn’t afraid to experiment on stage. At one point, the entire band turned into a fiery percussion ensemble as drummer Alex Martin laid down the beat for everyone, including Ezra on steel drums, to beat a tribal rhythm that threatened to turn the seated hall into a mad hatter’s tea party disco.
Ezra whipped out his new favorite instrument, a banjo, to play a rootsie melody for “What I got,” another taste from the new Daniel The Brave album. There was a special synergy between banjo, fiddle, and bass guitar. Gold’s organ played something effusive, similar to a carnival theme, creating a secondary allure for this piece.
Ezra announced that his Catholic girlfriend Alley was in the audience and proceeded to say how he’s not a father’s ideal candidate, being a “hippie Jew folk singer.” That lead him into his rocking new song “Steal Your Daughter,” a masterpiece of swirling, flying textures that drew from the earthy drawl of southern rock and vintage country flavorings. The fiddle and a couple of two by fours were rocking it. It also got a rock and roll authoritative stomp from a palpable rhythm section. And the tune, like Ezra’s others, still had that fresh neo-hippie thing going on.Ezra dedicated his song “Burn Brightly” to his fan Aaron whose only wish for Christmas was a flight to the northeast to catch last night’s show. It was a lively, spirited rendition and Ezra went into some free verse stream of consciousness poetry about how music can bring a whole roomful of stranger together in one spiritual communal experience.
At the end, Adam Ezra Group went into an interesting acoustic ballady version of the AC/DC classic “You Shook Me,” show that there isn’t anything this band isn’t afraid to tackle.
Opening band Darling Side rocked out in their own way, offering a delicious, unique blend of acoustic and electric instruments and impressive four-part vocal harmonies. This now based in Boston band might be onto something big. They received the kind of applause usually given to the headliner. They also sold several CDs after their set.
