Sunday, November 25, 2012

Cabinet and the Coal town Rounders, Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA 11/24/2012



Greetings everyone. Been awhile since I took out my quail feather pen and wrote anything but as I approach turning 40 (more like getting run over as it is this wed. the 28th), what better way to celebrate than with some bluegrass from the land of my formation, NE PA. I am of course talking about Scranton’s own Cabinet and the Coal Town Rounders, live at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA on November 24th.
     The Chameleon Club has been around as long as I can remember. One of the first shows I ever saw was there in 1989 or 90. We saw the Chicksaw Mudpuppies and the Flat Duo Jets. After a little research on Wikipedia, I discovered the Flat Duo Jets were described as “psychohillbilly” and were a big influence on Jack White.  

 The Chicksaw Mud Puppies were from the same Athens music scene that gave us REM and Widespread Panic.

 They even had the late great Willie Dixon produced their record. So once again, I was ahead of the curve.
    Meet up at Nate and Christie’s chateau for pregaming and got a sweet elevated spot behind the soundboard. The Coal Town Rounders were up first. They had a single vocal mike stand with a Grand Ole Opry style sign on it


     I never saw them before and came away impressed. They call themselves “Black lung Bluegrass” and play traditional bluegrass, i.e. no drummer. They did a few gospel tunes which made you want to dance without any guilt. They brought out the fiddle player from Cabinet, Todd Kopec, to join them on a few tunes. The only rock cover they did was “Shape I’m In” by the Band, which is always nice to hear around Thanksgiving. My personal highlight was a cover of “Slewfoot”, which I’m sure you all recognize as the old timey tune Bobby used to sing with the New Riders of the Purple Sage when they opened for the Dead in early 1970.   The Coal Town Rounders definitely lived up to the expectations I had based on the one show I had heard.
     The second band was really, really, bad. I don’t remember their name but their music was so far away from bluegrass or anything resembling good music it was sad. People streamed outside to smoke cigs when these guys started playing. It was radio friendly, almost popish junk. They had to have gotten the slot because of a lost bet or big favor, as in “if you give me a kidney, I’ll book your band”. There was one guy in the crowd singing along to every song and just rocking out in general, but for all I know he was on ketamine.
     Before Cabinet came on, I was talking to a guy outside. He was convinced the actor that plays Creed on The Office was in Cabinet at one time because of the Scranton connection. Um no. That actor was in the Grassroots, who were a one hit wonder back in the 60’s.
     So Cabinet finally comes on and they ripped it up. This was my fourth or fifth time seeing them this year and they did not disappoint. I don’t have much recollection for the set list as I didn’t have to drive and overindulged. But they tore it up and I even got a birthday shout out from JP. Hot damn! Scranton represent!
     I hope everyone had a safe Thanksgiving/Black Friday and enjoy the holiday season to its fullest as I appreciate the wisdom of Robert Hunter even more than before “..oh well a touch of grey, kinda suits you anyway. That was all I had to say, and it’s alright”

Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
PhD in Rock and roll