In Concert: Bearfoot - Page 2
An example of this experimentation is the group effort in building the song “Good in the Kitchen” as an acappella rendering of a subject that conveys many connotations - depending on one’s appetite. A real crowd pleaser, and a personal favorite of mine as I experienced the band for the first time, was the song “Caroline,” created by former group Singer / Songwriter Annalisa Tornfelt. This fresh punch of a bluesy examination of an abused women, who would rather be dancing:
Caroline’s comin’ into town;
She got a black eye big and round.
Caroline’s got her dancing shoes;
She ain’t got a thing to lose.
Bearfoot trying their hand at acappella on “Good in the Kitchen.”
As you can tell by the performance pictures the young women occupy the center, while the young men buttress these sirens, of extreme prowess, with their strings. Both men sing, and while most
adequate, have yet to find their true voice, but I know it’s coming, just as it took Eric Clapton quite a few years to find his. One issue that is inarguable, is that of these two gentlemen possessing a uniquely gifted prowess of their respective string instruments. Mike Michelson on guitar and Jason Norris on mandolin are respectively as comfortable handling the rhythm duties as they are at challenging their skills playing the peppy leads that are required with all good bluegrass bands. Whether playing an occasional reel, traditional arrangement, or of their own construction, these gentlemen easily pull their weight.
In describing the talents and the entertainment values of Bearfoot, I spared no hyperbole for I spent none. These young performers are so good, and yet they appear to possess so much potential,
I tend to consider the next level for a band of this caliber is the one occupied by Alison Krause and Union Station. To get there the band members will need to continue the advancement of their respective talents, and find a topflight dobro picker like Jerry Douglas (with Union Station).
My immediate suggestion: Book a ticket to a local show, or buy Bearfoot’s latest CD or one of their earlier CD’s. We will review their individual volumes in later editions of Better Angels Now.
Here below, I leave you with a few pictures of Bearfoot:
Bearfoot, from left to right: Angela Oudean, fiddle Odessa Jorgensen, fiddle Jason Norris, mandolin Kate Hamre, bass Mike Mickelson, guitar
Odessa Jorgensen, Mike Norris and Kate Hamre finding that groove to slip into for some well synchronized harmonies.
Odessa Jorgensen taking a breather from her lead and harmonizing vocal to join in with the band by bending a few notes on the fiddle.
This Article courtesy of our sister site: Better Angels Now.