Bill Kirchen as "the Musical Glue" for the Nick Lowe Tribute

In attendance for the Nick Lowe Tribute at The Barns this past Saturday night was Wolf Trap's friend and former colleague, Carter Nelson. Given his passion for Lowe's body of work, and his personal connections to some of the musicians on the evening's bill (which qualifies him to subjectively rate their performances), he approached me with the idea of guest posting a review of this show.

Carter is a great writer, and recounts last Saturday evening with remarkable enthusiasm and appreciation for a man who is clearly one of our author's most prominent musical heroes.

Check it out....

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With the fervor of a tent revival, the Barns at Wolf Trap shook with a mighty joy Saturday evening as a stalwart gathering of the Washington area’s finest musicians celebrated the genius of Nick Lowe -- U.K. pub rocker, tunesmith, producer, and onetime professed “Jesus of Cool.”

Those who know Nick Lowe also know that a more self deprecating soul can hardly be found in rock & roll so the moniker is now as humorous as it once was controversial when Lowe burst forth in 1978 with his debut solo album (re-titled Pure Pop for Now People for the US market) From the edgy, creative ferment of the punk rock era emerged a body of work that is well deserving of the homage paid -- thanks to the stunning efforts of Band House in staging an ambitious and well rounded tribute to this very-much active rock legend.

Providing the musical glue to the proceedings was local hero and longtime Lowe sideman, Bill Kirchen who, in the absence of the master himself, quite possibly knows the Lowe song catalog better than anyone else – at least on this side of the pond. Bill’s sublime command of the Fender Telecaster is routinely in demand for both recording sessions and on the road when Lowe performs in the US.

Appropriately enough, BK opened the show with a plaintive acoustic rendition of “What’s So Funny (Bout Peace Love & Understanding)” the Lowe chestnut made famous by fellow pub rock traveler Elvis Costello. From there, an astonishing parade of local talent (some 40 members strong) bent, conjured and teased that song catalog into a sparkling bouquet that provided testament to those in attendance of Nick Lowe’s sly brilliance.

Those, like myself, who were first introduced to his music via FM radio, were rewarded with the quirky, rollicking staples that, in their time, ran under the legs of period hit-making gladiators such Genesis, Foreigner and the Police. Personal highlights included a high octane version of “Switchboard Susan” courtesy of Johnny Castle & the Thrillbillys, beguiling harmony on “The Rose of England” from Deadmen’s Hollow and a seemingly pitch perfect vocal treatment on “Cruel To Be Kind” by bass player Cal Everett (formerly with homegrown new wavers, 4 Out of 5 Doctors.)

An added attraction was the deft use of a side stage during set changes which provided principle members of The Grandsons (and others) an opportunity to deliver “Lowe unplugged” while alternating as the horn section for the main stage. At the end of the evening the performers assembled en masse for a rousing encore of the timeless and increasingly symbolic “What’s So Funny (Bout Peace Love & Understanding)” sending the crowd home in tuneful glee.

- by Carter Rawson 1.10.08