Brokedown In Bakersfield | Santa Cruz | Review | Photos
By Team JamBase Nov 22, 2011 • 3:43 pm PST

Brokedown In Bakersfield :: 11.17.11 :: Moe’s Alley :: Santa Cruz, CA
Full photo gallery below review!
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Just on paper, this is a slam dunk conceptually and skill-wise, but seeing the newly formed band handle this material with such commanding presence in Santa Cruz made the whole enterprise seem like something the universe itself wanted to manifest. In short, everything felt so, so right. While they kicked up a lil’ dust on twang staples like “Six Days On The Road” and “Workin’ Man’s Blues,” they also bravely tackled beautifully dented mid-tempo classics like Hag’s “Sing A Sad Song” and “Silver Wings,” where the consciously restrained shuffle of Brogan and Adams nailed the vibe of the original recordings and set a lovely, melancholy base for the others to work off of.
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Sprinkled in with the superlative cover selections were a few Tim & Nicki Bluhm songs, including a steel stroked version of “Unforgetaboutable,” a swoony love song off the pair’s recently released Duets album. The originals gained fresh life with this band, particularly “Women’s Prison” which sounded like a lost classic Merle left lying around in this setting. The Bluhms continually knocked the room out with their lead vocals all night. Brogan and Lebo took quality lead turns on “Okie” and “Six Days,” respectively, and the mix of voices hinted at great possibilities available to this sextet given their collective talent.
Seriously, it’s kind of astonishing how good Brokedown In Bakersfield is after a just handful of shows on this debut tour. The obvious enjoyment and ardent passion for true country music by all involved speaks to memorable gigs to come. This inaugural California trek wraps up on Wednesday, November 23 at Slim’s in San Francisco, but hopefully festival organizers are already seeing when these busy musicians can free up their dance cards for a reunion next Spring and Summer. Pure pleasure on the hoof like this should ramble as far and wide as possible.
Setlist
California Cottonfields, D-I-V-O-R-C-E, My Baby’s Gone, Working Man’s Blues, Sing A Sad Song, Unforgetaboutable, Together Again, Mama Tried, You’re Running Wild, Women’s Prison, Hello Trouble, Silver Threads and Golden Needles, Silver Wings, Stick With Me, Swinging Doors, Walking After Midnight, Fist City, Okie from Muskogee, Six Days On The Road, You’re Still On My Mind, Luxury Liner. E: In My Hour of Darkness
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