The Unwieldies and the Devil's Duo at Cemetery Pulp, Saturday July 2, 2022

 

I have been quite enamored with Henderson's Cemetery Pulp ever since the Psyatics played there a couple of months ago and dig the fact that they have a wide range of activities happening there pretty much at all times. Live music is still somewhat random, but when I saw that they had a couple of acoustic nights, I asked to set up this night and Erin and Chris were more than accommodating. It turned into a great early evening, with a good crowd (for a small store, anyway) in a fab setting.

As per our usual MO, the Devil's Duo opened the show with out two-piece (guitar/banjolele) plus drum machine interpretations of songs from the likes of Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Bessie Smith, Eddie Novack and other obscurities. We tend towards the slow'n'moody, with an emphasis on murder ballads and songs of psychotics'n'death. We've been getting some pretty positive receptions so far and this night I think we brought a few more into the fold. Hopefully, we will return again soon to this all-too-appropriate setting!

Las Vegas' reigning acoustic combo has to be the ever-happenin', truly original, Unwieldies. With songs of love'n'loss (sometimes combined), bits of politics, and plenty of passion, their sound is a bit Americana, a bit folk, a bit old school, and plenty of talent. Rob (bass) and Danielle (guitar/lead vocals) and joined by violinist ("don't call it a fiddle!") Jack and banjo pickin' Erik as the romp through their originals and covers from the likes of the Pine Hill Haints, Roxy Music and even Michael Jackson! Great stuff all around.

Once again, huge thanks to Erin and Chris for putting together this groovy store/hang-out/venue and look forward to returning again before long. Also, major kudos to the Unwieldies for their innate coolness and for the use of their PA, making us sound better than ever. Hope to repeat it all soon!