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| From | Drew MacDonald <drewmacdonald1@gmail.com> |
| Subject | Schlesinger/Viola |
| Date | Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:24:51 -0800 |
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Hey, I just remembered I promised to post my impressions of the Adam
Schlesinger/Mike Viola club date at Hollywood's Hotel Cafe on Wednesday.
Short version: It was really good. Surprise! I am sometimes annoyed when an
act seems under-rehearsed, but if there were any two artists I would let
slide on that, it would be these guys. With two consummate pros like this,
it actually worked well to have these top-notch pop tunes presented in a
loose, party-like format. For most of the evening, it was just the two of
them and a drummer who may have been Brian Young, though I didn't confirm
that.
As Adam explained near the beginning of the set, this was an opportunity for
the two of them to play the songs they write for projects outside their
Fountains of Wayne & Candy Butchers outlets. As they traded off back and
forth, those tunes did indeed comprise the majority of the show, starting
with Adam's "Pretend To Be Nice" from the "Josie & The Pussycats" movie
soundtrack. "It works better with the ears," said Adam, nothing that it was
one of two songs written for female singers that he didn't bother changing
the gender in the lyrics he sang. (The other was "Screw Loose" from the
"Cry-Baby" stage musical.)
Also sung by Adam were "Have I Got A Present For You," (originally performed
by Toby Keith on Stephen Colbert's "A Colbert Christmas" special) and "Way
Back Into Love" from the "Music & Lyrics" movie.
Viola's numbers included a couple each from the "Get Him To The Greek" and
"Walk Hard" films, which now means I now have to go buy those soundtrack
albums, if only for the smirky "Furry Walls" and "The Clap." For some of
these, he brought up songwriting partner Dan Bern up on stage to sing along.
Kelly Jones was also on hand for a few songs. This fuller presentation made
me wish even more for a studio album of all these songs, performed by these
guys instead of the cast members. Another thing that struck me was Viola's
voice. For some reason, I've never loved it on his records (finding it a
little thin and raspy) but on this night, he sounded great.
They did throw in a few selections from their own projects, including FOW's
"Fire Island" and a song I can't remember the title of from Candy Butcher's
"Hang On Mike" album. Highlight of the night for me (and for the nice-sized
crowd, seemingly) was "That Thing You Do," a direct Schlesinger/Viola
collaboration and one of my favorite songs ever.
Anyone here see the San Francisco show?
-- Drew
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