This past Sunday, we headed down to Cambridge to see one of our favorite kindie sensations, Gustafer Yellowgold, aka Morgan Taylor. Playing at the renowned (but cramped) Passim Folk Music and Cultural Center, Taylor brought along a few band members this time for a spirited, kid-appropriate 45-minute show that pleased the hardcore fans and kept smiles on the faces of newbies as well. (Check out my previous post for an intro to the Gustafer project.)
Pre-show excitement
Maia is a seasoned concert-goer at 3-years-old − this was her fourth concert and her second time seeing Gustafer perform live. So, we all knew what to expect going into it, and were eagerly awaiting the show. The format remained the same as that of last year’s show, but that’s not a complaint. In between songs, Taylor tells background stories about the alien from the sun, adding to the growing Gustafer mythology. Here, Taylor brings life to the show with off-the-cuff quips that clearly display the comedic talents of this artist ever-so-present in his songwriting as well. The song performances are accompanied by the animated musical segments from the DVDs, which are projected behind him. To us, they are familiar and wonderful to revisit as we hear the accompanying songs live. To others in the audience who may be less Gustafer-obsessed, the visuals and printed lyrics offer an added engagement in the performance.
The show at Passim was just as brilliant as we expected. There is always something magical about finding a talented artist you love that hasn’t hit the mainstream conscience and then finally being surrounded by other fans. And for audience members who came to the show as casual fans or as Passim members, Taylor wisely amped up audience interaction from his last New England visit making sure everyone felt the ‘Mellow Fever’. Gustafer Yellowgold is also an act that you can rightly claim sounds just as good live, and the addition of backup singers, drums and horns only enhanced this. And, on a more personal note, some of our favorite tunes like “Butter Pond Lake,” “New Blue Star” and “Rocket Shoes” were brought out for the event, making it all the more celebratory.
At one point I remember looking at my wife’s face and realizing she was swept up in the sounds as much as, if not more than, my daughter was. If a kindie rocker can elicit that reaction in an adult audience member, then you know you are in the hands of a true talent.
Check out a video of the event below. (Sound quality: not so great) And, be sure to visit the official website.
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Incarceron
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Pre-show excitement
Morgan sings about Mustard Slugs
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