The Hotel Café Tour featuring Dan Wilson, Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers, Meiko and Jim Bianco
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The Record Bar
Better than: The Rainforest Café, barely
Photos & Review By RICHARD GINTOWT
I’ve heard good things about the Hotel Café. Supposedly, it’s the anti-industry gem of Los Angeles, where up-and-coming singer/songwriters enjoy attentive audiences and the chance to jam with Ray LaMontagne, Jewel or John Mayer. Oops – did I just say “anti-industry”? Um, wait, hold on a sec…
For all of its promises to present “No cookie cutter corporate American Idols, just real music, written by real artists, surrounded by real friends, who actually have a story to tell,” this year’s Hotel Café Tour (the fourth of its kind) was a massive yawn. Even Dan Wilson – he of the amazing, underappreciated Trip Shakespeare and the quite tolerable Semisonic – couldn’t escape the trappings of a lineup that was every bit the “conveyor belt of sensitive singer-songwriters” that Ingrid Michaelson self-consciously joked about onstage. That’s not to say that any of the night’s five performers were totally devoid of talent, but as a collective entity they took on the personality of a Dawson’s Creek finale (showing my age here…) that was heavy on the drama and light on levity.
If ever there was a stage for maudlin 4/4 pop ballads, the Hotel Café tour is it. One Record Bar staff person (whose good name I will protect should he ever have the chance to hitch his buggy to the Hotel Café and ride it like a mule) commented to me that this was the sort of show where you expected each singer to announce, “You can hear this song on the so-and-so soundtrack.” It’s funny – and increasingly obnoxious – that that’s becoming the status quo: one good placement on One Tree Hill and you’re endeared to legions of soccer moms and ex-cheerleaders (apologies to the soccer moms and ex-cheerleaders who are totally righteous and listen to M.I.A. and Dethklok).
Since Dan Wilson was my reason for leaving the house last night, I’ll address him primarily. Those not familiar with Trip Shakespeare would do well to pick up Lulu (1991) and Across the Universe (1990) as an introduction. Though initially a bit goofy and off-putting, Trip Shakespeare’s combination of bellowing vocals, fretless bass and thundering percussion was a juggernaut of hyper-catchy deliciousness. The Minneapolis band disbanded shortly after Lulu, whereupon Wilson and bassist John Munson went on to form Semisonic and enjoy a respectable run as an above-average modern rock band. For my money, however, Matt Wilson’s (Dan's brother) 1998 solo album Burnt, White and Blue is the best of the post-Trip Shakespeare batch.
Wilson still has a fantastic voice, and he’s likable enough onstage with his oblique banter and distant gaze, but his songwriting appears to be on autopilot. Financially, that’s not such a bad thing (he penned the the Dixie Chicks’ hit song “Not Ready to Make Nice”), but creatively there’s not much going on that surpasses his past efforts. His 2007 release Free Life received a lot of blah reviews, and though it’s not all bad, it’s not nearly as compelling as the inflated pomp and poignancy of Semisonic’s Feeling Strangely Fine. Regardless, I’m gonna give it a few more listens in the hope that it’s a “slow burner” (same goes for the new album from Minneapolis mate Gary Louris). As for Wilson’s performance last night, I’d rate it a slightly above-average “meh.”
As for the rest of the Hotel Café posse, originality was sorely lacking. As mama used to say: “If you ain’t got nothing nice to say, don’t become a music critic.” Or do, and leave early.
Personal bias: Well, that much should be obvious.
Random detail: Cary Brothers complimented Ricardo on his “shorts that basketball players wore in the 1970s.”
By the way: Laminated all-access band passes look retarded at the Record Bar.
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