The Unwieldies at the Huntridge Tavern, Saturday May 18, 2019

I don't get to see my fave local acoustic act, the Unwieldies, nearly as often as I should, as they most often play out in Boulder City and it takes a lot for me to go to the other side of the city. But, the Huntridge Tavern is one of my fave watering holes/hang-outs and it's always nice to have an excuse to drop by this cozy dive.

Husband/wife team Rob'n'Danielle are the core of the Unwieldies, with Rob playing stand up while Dani adds her lovely voice and acoustic guitar. The duo is now joined by Jack (also in the Psyatics with Rob) on violin (adding a unique sound to the combo), Richard on dobro and newest member Jesse on drums and banjo - sometimes simultaneously!

The sound is more-or-less folk/Americana but with hints of Tom Waits, pop, and multiple other influences. They specialize in lyrics with fine turns-of-phrases and soaring melodies with Rob's Waits-ian voice counter-balancing Dani's clear, pretty tones. The set was primarily taken from their CD's along with covers like "Billy Jean" (which works better than you would think!), "The Thrill is Gone" (taking on a whole new life with these folks behind the wheel) and an excellent take on Elvis Costello's poignant'n'heartbreaking "Veronica".

I really enjoyed the addition of drums and banjo to the tunes and look forward to seeing Jesse fully integrate with the Uns. The Huntridge is a neighborhood bar, with people floating in'n'out throughout the night, but the Unwieldies managed to bring in friends'n'fans and make true believers of those who just happened to be enjoying a local drink. Absolutely one of Vegas' best groups and definitely one of the best acoustic acts in town.