The artist formerly known as John Wesley Harding has gone back to using his real name. The author of three weighty fiction tomes as Wesley Stace has taken to using that name for his music career as well. That’s about all that has changed, he’s still a snappy dresser, a quick wit, a charming host and the writer of catchy, quirky, often humorous songs. He’s been assembling comedic, literary and musical talent under the Cabinet of Wonders name for years at the City Winery in New York, but only sporadically has he taken these shows on the road, bringing a few friends along for the ride, while also drawing from the local talent.
In the former category we had Portlander John Roderick,
who’s now better known for his podcast than he is for fronting the excellent,
but now seemingly semi-retired Long Winters.
In New York, the comedy is usually provided by the strangely unfunny (in
my experience) Eugene Mirman, luckily on this trip it was the dry, devastating,
sarcastic wit of Todd Barry that provided the laughs. He also brought his excellent backing band
from New York, awkwardly known as the British UK, which included the
always-charming David Nagler on piano and guitar and bass player Eddie Carlson,
both who I’ve seen play with Chris Mills (which may explain Chris’s frequent
Cabinet appearances). In the latter group
there were famous Chicagoans Jon Langford, Robbie Fulks and Sam Prekop and
Archer Prewitt of the Sea and the Cake.
After an introduction by Stace where he used clever rhyming couplets
(or maybe they were limericks) to introduce each member of the troupe, the
guests left the stage with the promise that they would be back. Fulks had the first shift, looking as
(adorably) country as possible in overalls, and playing songs from his
excellent new release Gone Away Backwards.
His solo turn was followed by the band returning to join him on
“Guitarman.” While Stace and the band
launched into the Bread hit, Fulks just looked confused. Turns out he mean the Jerry Reed
“Guitarman.” You knew it was all an act,
but it was still amusing. Langford
introduced “Haunted,” by telling Stace that Kelly Hogan had also recorded one
of his songs for her last record (which coincidentally also included a Fulks
song). And sorry Wes, but I like
Langford’s song on Kelly’s record better.
He also made use of the backing band for a Welsh anthem. I was expecting the rollicking “Delilah,” but
it turned out to be a more serious tune.
I hadn’t seen John Roderick since he opened for Jay Farrar
and Ben Gibbard at Lincoln Hall probably three years ago. At the time he promised the band would be
heading back on the road soon, but that hasn’t come to fruition. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been writing
songs and he played a few new ones tonight as well as a familiar one. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was
“Scared Straight” from the Long Winters terrific record When I Pretend to Fall
with the British UK backing him. So
good. A mutual friend had coaxed the Sea
and the Cake’s Prekop and Prewitt to join the Cabinet tonight by telling them
they had to do it. They hadn’t played
together (or perhaps at all) in awhile, and though it wasn’t necessarily perfect
or prepared (Prekop had large cue cards with the lyrics on the floor in front
of him), it was still lovely.
At first having two writers on the bill seemed like a waste of
time, I thought I would rather have another song from each of the musical
guests (who were limited to three), but as it turns out they were just as
entertaining as the other acts on the bill.
Disappointingly, I don’t remember either of their names, but the girl
read a story about growing up in Alaska and being defended by her father and
brothers after a date had given her a black eye. I don’t know if it was autobiographical but
she read it with a conviction that made you believe it was. The guy read a short story about starting to
date again while taking care of their three, maybe four, kids after his wife
left him for a professional ping pong player.
It was hilarious.
Sure my bill for two glasses of wine was $30, but it was a
lovely evening and a great setting for the Cabinet of Wonders, which turned out
to be wondrous indeed.
Robbie Fulks
John Roderick
Jon Langford
The Sea and the Cake
