Jim White and the Handsome Family

Jim White and the Handsome Family at the Old Town School of Folk Music
Chicago, IL Feb. 11. 2006

Jim White - http://jimwhite.net/

Okay, how do you answer the question, "If you were on a desert island, what three albums (CD's) would you absolutely have to have with you?"

I usually start by asking, "if I'm on a desert island how am I going to listen to music?” But then I was born sarcastic.

Let's say I have a solar powered iPod?

One of my top three albums would be Jim White's, The Mysterious Tale Of How I Shouted Wrong-Eyed Jesus. A difficult title, I agree, but an even more difficult and complex piece of music. I put this in the category of "perfect albums". Albums so complete and wonderful you can listen to them over and over and never get tired, and always hear them fresh. For me, there are a few albums like that. Brian Eno's Another Green World, Zappa's Hot Rats, (with the divine Peaches 'n Regalia) and Bach's Preludes.

I’ve listened to Wrong Eyed Jesus so many times, and I never tire of it. The music so haunting, the lyrics so beguiling, and Jim White’s voice so soulful. I sometimes listen to it over and over and hear something new each time.

So when I heard that Jim White was going to open for the Handsome Family, I knew we had to be there.

We had just seen a movie by Andrew Douglas called Searching For The Wrong Eyed Jesus, which featured Jim White. It was based on the album, but different. Andrew Douglas obviously liked the album so much he wanted to use it as a starting off point for a film. The Handsome Family appear in the film, in two or three wonderful musical interludes. On one, they are on the roof of a house that is floating along a river. And this was just after Katrina hit.

I wasn’t as excited about the movie as I am by the album, mainly because I wanted to hear more music, but it was a neat film which will be released on DVD in March, so check it out.

But back to last night’s concert. Jim takes the stage, a solo performer with a blond Telecaster and a “band” of digital toys, (Mr. Drum machine, Mr. Looper # 1, Mr. Looper #2). He created these textured layered backgrounds for his songs to ride on with guitar parts, backing vocals and wind sounds, and a little breath powered keyboard. And it’s magical the way you watch him blow a few notes into the looper and then sing along with his creation, right in front of you. A couple of times the digital technology got away from him, but for the most part he was so adept at it that it felt seamless.

Mixing songs from Wrong Eyed Jesus and his new album, Drill A Hole In That Substrate And Tell Me What You See, his set of a little more than an hour was simply magical. He likes to talk and tell stories between songs, and sometimes his between song banter was longer than the song. But I liked hearing him, it added something too the music for me, to know a little bit more about the person I am listening to. Like his story of being rejected by the Scientologists in Amsterdam was inspired.

He alludes to a sort of imbalance in his life, a sort of instability due to his mind working very fast and his need to catch up to it, and all the religious brainwashing he received as a child, and his need to figure it out. But he has such a wonderful sense of humor about himself, that it isn’t sad or scary, but charming. Very charming. A uniquely gifted performer who knows how to tell stories only he can tell. His musical style is wide-open chords, ethereal notes ringing out, layered and textured. He plays effortlessly, almost not moving, his fingers barely hitting the strings. He looks down most of the time he’s singing, and apologized to the audience in the balcony that they have to look at the top of his head most of the time because he “genuflects” while he sings, and thinks about other things.

Signing CD’s and posters in the lobby after his set, he took the time to speak with everyone who wanted to say hello, gracious and gentle, especially with the “2nd grader” who wanted to have a poster signed. Jim gave him a hat from his suitcase of used clothes he sells at his “Jim-boutique” after gigs. “Celebrity - worn clothing at thrift store prices”.
A unique performer you should try to see someday.

The Handsome Family - http://www.handsomefamily.com/

Then the Handsome Family took the stage. Rennie and Brett Sparks. A husband wife duo, joined on the slide guitar by man whose name I just can’t remember. He added a lot to their music, though, playing electric slide guitar, mandolin and violin.

The handsome Family’s music has been described as alternative country and Americana. It is dark and haunting stuff. Songs of ghosts haunting malls, bottomless wells, dead girls, and self-destruction.

The first thing you notice though is Brett’s booming and magnificent baritone. I would kill for a voice like his. How wonderful to be able to sing so effortlessly. He just opens his mouth a little and this amazing sound comes out, so controlled, so pure. Rennie sings harmony and plays bass guitar, while Brett played a beautiful old Gibson acoustic. And just so you don’t think they are too folk music-y, they use a laptop on stage playing a rhythm track to almost all their songs.

The only album of theirs I own is the Live at Shuba’s from 2002, that their website says is now out of print. It’s a very funny show, and I wasn’t sure if they would be like that last night or not. They were a little more subdued, buts till very playful and very funny between songs. They appear very relaxed and comfortable on stage, even when they fretted about playing a new song and forgetting a verse. Their music is easy to get lost in, easy to drift off into the images they create.

The Handsome Family website is a fun place to poke around and get to know them a bit. Reading about their personal lives and past just make them so much more interesting.

Last night was one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. The Old Town School is an intimate venue with great sound. The two acts were so connected and complimentary, they worked so well together. It doesn’t surprise me that they enjoy touring together.

Jim White, and Rennie and Brett Sparks all seem to have been able to overcome some personal demons by using humor and music to find a way to themselves. And I am glad they have chosen to share that with the world.

As a musician, as a music lover, as a song writer and as a performer; I was inspired. Thank you.