This show was part of a weekend-long series of shows at Maxwells benefiting Roots & Wings. Aside from the two bands we were able to watch, Speed the Plough and Charlotte Sometimes (whom we both managed to miss for different reasons) were also on the bill, making it a 3/4 Feelies-related lineup.
For those not in the know, Yung Wu is basically The Feelies (bassist Brenda Sauter and drummer Stanley Demeski also feature in the group; only guitarist Bill Million, one of the group’s original members, was missing in action) except with vocalist Glenn Mercer as a sideman on guitar and led by percussionist Dave Weckerman. While Weckerman is not the strongest vocalist, his presence, enthusiasm and stage banter more than make up for any deficiencies. Still, this had the feel of a band playing to a bunch of friends and family and that’s basically what it was. It was an afternoon show to boot, so that made it even more family-friendly. In other words, the vibe was super-friendly and Yung Wu played a mix of originals from their only album (1987’s Shore Leave) and cover songs by The Move (“Walk Among the Water”), Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno (“Big Day”) and The Rolling Stones (“Child of the Moon”).
Wild Carnation is the band led by Sauter and her husband, guitarist Rich Barnes. Rounding out the lineup are keyboardist Anne Hopkins and drummer Chris O’Donovan, formerly of Speed the Plough, Joss and other bands as well. Since they play only sporadically, the only other time we saw them was back in 2007 at the North Star Bar when they played with Glenn Mercer. Back then, they were supporting their excellent album Superbus, which had just been released. This time, they played a short set that consisted of new, unrecorded songs (yes, there are plans for a new album in the works) and material from Superbus alongside a cover of a song by The Grass Roots, done in tribute to the late guitarist Rob Grill, who passed away last month.
