Photos/Writer: Ed Conway
Heading to Troy, NY on a beauty of a night is always a pleasure, The Hangar always brings in top talent and this was just another example. It’s been at least 5 years and some personnel changes since the last time JD McPherson stepped into what used to be a fairly regular tour stop. During that time, we had a pandemic, and McPherson took a job as the hired gun guitar slinger for a few Alison Krause/Robert Plant tours. With his new album, Nite Owls, recently released, and the long gap between appearances, it all led to a sold out crowd of over 200 people and McPherson did not disappoint with the crowd dancing, well, at least as much as the shoulder to shoulder room allowed, and clapped along throughout the night.
McPherson was backed, as usual, by a solid group of musicians with long time utility man Doug Corcoran on guitar, baritone guitar, keys and sax, leading McPherson to describe him as the “Swiss Army Knife” of the band. Yohei stepped in on keyboards and guitar while John Perrin, of NRBQ kept the beat. Beau Sample provided the deep end on both upright and electric bass. And they all allowed McPherson to continue on without missing a beat from his old backing band.
McPherson started his set, as he started his new album, with “Sunshine Getaway,” a song very reminiscent of McPherson’s older standards. In fact, nearly the whole album was interspersed throughout the 19 song set, including “Just Like Summer,” “Baby Blues, “Shining Like Gold,” the title track “Nite Owls” and “The Rock & Roll Girls.” One disappointment, if you can call it that was, “I Can’t Go Anywhere With You” which featured guest vocals by Bloodshot Bill on the album. While Bill made an appearance at the DC date, he wasn’t at the Hangar. McPherson also opened the encore with “Phantom Lover Of New Rochelle.”
While they hit the new album pretty hard, obviously, but they also reached back to their catalog for songs such as “Lucky Penny” and “On The Lips” from Undivided Heart and Soul. “Bloodhound Rock” was paired with Signs and Signifiers’ “Wolf Teeth” for a medley which saw Corcoran switch to keys where he let loose on “Wolf Teeth.” Also included from S&S were, “Fire Bug” and the evening’s closer, “North Side Gal” and featured Corcoran on Sax. If memory serves me, that was the original instrument he was hired to play. The biggest reaction came when the band went into “Head Over Heels,” and they were cooking, most likely spurred on by a young lady in the front carrying a sign reading “Head Over Heels For JD.”
Opening the show, fresh off their European tour, was LA native, Kate Clover. Steeped in the Southern California punk scene, it was clear the influence bands like X and Germs had on their sound. The last couple of times I’ve seen McPherson, the opening acts were solo singer/songwriters, so it was nice to see a different side of his interests. Clover was backed by a solid group of musicians made up of bassist, William Evans and drummer, David Field teaming up for a solid, driving beat. While Clover handled the lead vocals with her growling, powerful voice, she also contributed to that beat on rhythm guitar letting Giuliani Scarfo handle the short, but tasteful, solos on lead guitar.
The entire “nite” was a brilliant spectacle of music, from the solid punk stylings of Kate Clover through the last note of JD McPherson’s “North Side Gal.” The sold-out crowd were certainly ready to party and the energy created by them was reflected back by the bands. I’ve seen McPherson many times over the years, including their first area appearance at the tiny Ale House where Ray Jacildo brought in a Hammond B3 organ and Leslie speaker as well as electric piano. That show was so packed, people were standing on the sidewalk. The Hangar provides a much bigger space, and still, people were shoulder to shoulder. It’s fair to say, JD McPherson has a second home here in the Capital District of NY for as long as he wants.
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