By: David de Young
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Jeremy Messersmith at the Varsity - Photo by David de Young
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Live, Messersmith does a bit of the Joseph Arthur thing, playing along with looped guitar pat sounds and singing along with his own on-the-fly created harmonies. On stage Monday, he was joined by Andy Thompson on xylophone, second guitar and melodica (yep, that air organ you blow into through a tube.) It was immediately apparent that Messersmith has done a lot of touring; his performance was relaxed and captivating. At times his mannerisms exuded the same sort of confidence that Robert Skoro has in his solo shows.
Messersmith said the Varsity was "easily ten times the nicest place I've ever played," a theme Ben Connelly would return to later recalling (with something that might be called fondness, if you really stretch it) the bathrooms at the 7th Street entry during his days with Steeplejack many years ago.
Highlights of Messersmith's set included many songs from his record, including the aforementioned pop song "Novocain" as the second song, "Snow Day," which he called a "kids song," and "Day Job," one of my favorites from the new disc, during which he smiled as he sang. (Perhaps he wasn't joking when he asked before playing the song how many of us had "day jobs" and said that he loved his.) Before "Beautiful Children," another album standout, Messersmith had to think for a minute to remember which key he normally sings it in; for his benefit I put in my notes that it's capoed at fret 7.
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Ben Connelly at the Varsity - Photo by David de Young (click here for full set)
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It was only at tonight's show that I picked up Connelly's new album Over You, but I can already tell it's another doozy from this heavyweight of Minnesota songwriting. Over the past few years Connelly's music has become a spiritual sort of base for me in Minnesota music and has come to mean a lot to me personally as well as musically. He opened his set unplugged from the middle of the Varsity floor with "Where Were Those Summer Stars?"
Connelly has developed his own distinct sound and songwriting style, and it's one I love. (I think I've called him "world class" in a previous review, and if I didn't, I've meant to.) His themes are a perfect combination of hope and cynicism that can be chilling to the attentive listener at times, while casual listening might lead to other conclusions. His performance style only clouds issues of dark vs. light as he smiles through the saddest parts of his songs. "I Left A Trail of Tears" is almost otherworldly, almost a Zen riddle (or Koan) of sorts. And I couldn't help but notice the relaxed quality Connelly's voice has begun taking on over the years. As he grows as a songwriter, his true voice shines through and he has no need to try and sing like anyone else.
For Over You, for which tonight's show served as a CD Release Party, Connelly solicited the help of Minnesota notables Peter Anderson (Polara, Mark Mallman, Kraig Johnson and the Program) on drums, Brian O'Neil (Big Ditch Road) on pedal steel, JoAnna James (whose distinct voice you'll recognize on "Little Lights Shining" and also Mark Mallman on backing "voices." Connelly produced the album with mastering and recording help from Jason Keillor. His old band-mate Andy Sullivan served as co-producer.
Back to the show, though the disc as a whole was new to me, I was already familiar with many of the songs played Monday as I've seen several Connelly shows since his last disc, 2004's You Burn Hotter. "Why?" is a series of thought-provoking and sometimes sad questions to a mother from an inquisitive child. "I Left A Trail of Tears" comes off as a somewhat timeless folk song. Playing "A Wedding Ring is Not a Guarantee" Connelly referred to his song "Southbound," from the Steeplejack days which had the narrator of the tale heading south by train on the eve of his wedding day.
As in past shows, Connelly was joined by his friend Maleek Davis on drums, this time on a full drum kit. A full kit paired with an acoustic guitar might have overpowered a lesser player, but the combination worked. One of my set favorites was "There's A Girl," which is as much a poem as a song (and I view as kind of a flipside to Dylan's "Tangled Up in Blue") and the rocking title track "Over You." To see how Connelly's guitar meshes with just drums, check out "Stay In My My Arms" from the album.
Connelly closed the set proper with a cover of "Surrender" by Cheap Trick with lyric variations including and "got my Pixies records out" to freshen one of the references.
The set wouldn't have been complete without an encore. Someone shouted out for "It's You," from You Burn Hotter which and Connelly obliged. I shouted out for "Evangeline," which was the second encore.
This week Connelly is embarks on a tour of the East Coast. You can buy his new CD at the cool local shops and online at www.cdbaby.com/benconnelly3, where you can also sample most of the songs from his last three releases.
Location Info:
The Varsity Theater
Artist Info: Ben Connelly, Jeremy Messersmith
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