Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
// August 15th, 2008 // No Comments » // Concerts, Music
I first heard Thao with the Get Down Stay Down on NPR’s All Songs Considered. Boilen highlighted her song “Bag of Hammers,” and I immediately became a fan. When I returned home, I purchased We Brave Bee Stings and All and have enjoyed the entire album ever since.
When I arrived at the Black Cat, David Schultz & the Skyline were in the beginning of their set. Schultz & the Skyline are from Richmond, and have a pleasant, twangy sound. Thao and the Get Down Stay Down came on stage around 10:35 and I immediately noticed that the sound was not nearly as full as it is on the album.
To start, her voice was not as strong as it is on the recording, but she was coughing and drinking tea in between songs, and considering this was the last stop of the tour, I’m going to assume she was just worn out. Towards the end of the show her voice improved, and seemed to be stronger and much more consistent.
Thao is a much better guitar player than I anticipated, much better looking and more stylish than I anticipated, and a significantly more energetic performer than I anticipated. She set up on the left of the stage, but as she would wander your eyes couldn’t help but to follow her as she jumped up and down, danced and vigorously attacked her guitar.
The highlight of the show came during the last song of the first set where all four members of David Schultz & the Skyline joined Thao with the Get Down Stay Down on stage. There were multiple tambourines, two mallets and a harmonica with a total of seven people on stage collaborating on very spirited version of “Feet Asleep.”
Though there were no pianos, banjos, or horns, which coalesce to create a full sound on We Brave Bee Stings and All, there was a little beat boxing and plenty of hand clapping, which as my friend Odie will tell you, always makes for a good time.
