NORTHEAST PERFORMER
October 2001 by Dave Madeloni
Nick O'Neil Lawnchair Series Concerts
Holyoke, MA 08/18/01
The seven member band crowded under a canopy in the parking lot, framed by a chintzey set of fake palm trees and a cardboard surfer. The weather was perfect and the smallfish crowd in a summery, festive mood. On one side, a delegation from a nearby Nursing home was grinning and wearing leis, while a smattering of chatty, beer imbibing locals inhabited the other.
The performance started innocently enough, with a Neil Young-ish lounge version of "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star", that the audience barely acknowledged, not quite sure if the show had started or if the song was part of the soundcheck. Westfield's laconic persona and acerbic wit was soon displayed: "Thank you and goodnight! That was a request. I'm Steve Holyoke and the Holyoke Brothers-that's why we got the gig."
The slow band, consisting of the implacable Jim Joe Greedy on bass, drummer King Kevin French, Bob Richards handling xylophone and keyboards, and a playful horn section: "Brother" Jake Westfield blowing sax, Mark Turcotte on Trombone, and a crouching Joe Hoye on Tuba (his instrument too tall for the canopy) laid down a variety of grooves, some sunny Caribbean, a funky taste of New Orleans, a R&B riff here and there, and some old-fashioned Guitar-Rock. Westfield continually took advantage of the 40 or so feet between the band and the audience by stepping off stage to solo on his six-string, to direct band's meandering jams or to serenade a child.
Highlights of the first set were a cover of Ray Mason's "I'm Only Human" (featuring an impromptu duet with Ms. Westfield, holding an infant), which sequed into a Cobain riff then ended in a Westfield coughing fit. The hilarious yet sultry "I'll Take My Clothes Off For You (If You Take My Clothes Off For Me)" was dedicated to his wife, while "Mangled" might be described as the Doors meet Jonathan Richman.
The former Pajama Slave Dancer handled a blown amp with trademark Westfield off-handed humor. "This one's called 'Technical Difficulties', a Patsy Cline tune." Declared with fake conviction. Little did the frontman know, the mechanical glitch was an omen for an unpredictable second set that would be transformed into a bizarre but magical convergence of off-beat personalities, smirking improvisation, unintended comedy, and Holyoke-brand chutzpah.
An apparently drunk senior citizen Westfield dubbed Lucille, ambled over to the bandstand to request that she sing "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" with the Slow Band's backing. The game Westfield obliged, setting up a mike for Lucille in front of the stage. She remained there clutching the mike, looking annoyed for the next half hour, as the band tried valiantly to coax Lucille to sing or give up, while trying to entertain the rest of the crowd. When the Slow Band launched into a sloppy yet riveting version of "Electrocute Me", Lucille came alive, complaining "I'm not gonna sing this crap!"
Westfield finished the song with a Townshend-like windmill and announced, "We're gonna take a break and come back and play another three hours". The undaunted Lucille remained at the mike, then finally sang during "Crystal Rainbow", utilyzing her best Yoko Ono imitation. Over a reggae beat, Westfield improvised lyrics that gently roasted Holyoke, Lucille, himself, and the bemused patrons.
At one point, two masked and caped teens emerged from the shadows as they headed down High Street (I kid you not!). They were redirected by an amazed Westfield onto the crowded stage. The pair spontaneously started to dance with their arms flailing over their heads. Soon the entire audience was doing what Westfield described as, "The Superhero Dance" while Lucille continued to croon.
Perhaps sensing that the Superheroes would be a hard act to follow, Westfield soon exited the stage during an extended King Kevin French drum solo. Westfield took up a lawn chair alongside the crowd, boasting loud enough for most to hear, "I love this band".
Mp3.com Review:
A strange mixture of sounds. Guitar and spacious live drum sound very much like early Doors, this band has a few tricks up it's sleeve. Steve Westfield's vocal is a little Micheal Stipe and a little Neil Young. Lou Barlow serves up his usual simple guitar lines with a little wah lead thrown in for good rockin' measure. "Everything is possible, so nothing gets done" is a catchy and thought-provoking hook, thrown in a little slow, a little fast, but always right on. Sebadoh, Pavement, and Dinosaur Jr. fans are used to this. The songs that this makeshift group have come up with appear to be just a little side project for these guys, and much of has an improvasational feel.
CMJ
"Excentric Genius". "One wonders what he could do if he took himself a bit more seriously" ....he's made a helluva record."
Massachusetts Daily Collegian
"One of the best concerts this year had to offer . Not a lot of people in the club, but a very relaxed atmosphere in the room as on the stage . Steve is known for his humor and enjoy your life style . Last time I saw him, they were just a threesome but this time he had a real band : drums, upright electric bass, electric vibraphone, trombone, tuba and backing vocals . Especially the trombone and the tuba made a lot of his older work richer sounding than before and the guy on vibraphone was hot . He even could change the sound to a conga and play it like a conga . Steve cut up his electric guitar up and with some velcro he could attach it to his acoustic guitar . That way he could play a self-made double barrel guitar . Some songs got a New Orleans jazz break with all the members doing their solo stuff . Sometimes intimate and sometimes shaking the house and sometimes just plain wonderful, this band glowed with a warmth that you can't get from the best of stoves ".
Puncture
"At the risk of overhyping, ... one of those great albums".
Entertainment Weekly
"...individualistic, cream-of-the-recent-crop. The Leonard Cohen of alt-rock."
*****(five stars) Music Express (Germany)
Rolling Stone
"...a delicious surprise package."