What an absolutely gratifying, satisfying show last night's Clean & Nasty and Friends' was. I haven't smiled like that in weeks. Turns out Charles Redclaw Lavoie plays the harmonica way better than anyone else you know. He claims it's easy, that it's a scam instrument with no wrong notes, but I say I've heard bad harmonica playing and that Charles is just being modest as usual.

And Susan's voice. Susan's golden voice repeating "there's no meaning, there's no meaning"? It's enough to make you actually believe in something. I've never committed anything to any kind of a wishlist, but to hear Susan sing will probably be one of the things I ask for if ever find myself on a deathbed, or recovering from surgery, or awaiting execution. Situations like that. Dire ones.

And did I mention?--I didn't--the showstopper they've got in their latest song, The Cult of Jenni?

Yes, that Jenni. It's as good and stubbornly optimistic as its subject matter.


The next chance you have to see Clean & Nasty is on May 14th in Brooklyn at the Crossroads Cafe (1241A Prospect Ave. at Reeve Place). It'll only cost you $5 and maybe some subway rides--a steal!--you should totally go. What else are you going to do with your Sunday night, watch ten episodes of LOST in a row?


Christine took some photos of last night's show. They can be looked at here.




Tom, April 21, 2006, 10:24 AM          (link here)