Cherry Ghost - Hotel Cafe

Written By: Cherry Ghost

Hotel Café 6.27.08
Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons
Sam Shelton

I try to visit Hotel Café VERY sparingly. That way I am more likely to enjoy what I see. If I visit too often I’m know to get singer-songwritered out. Although if you ever notice that a band you love is playing there, I highly recommend it. I’ve seen a band I love play there and it was magic. But, as many of you probably know, it’s usually reserved for the singer songwriters of the world. And they are usually great. In small doses.

Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons:
I didn’t come to see this group – but I was so very pleasantly surprised. The instrumentation was so simple and so perfect. The voice and lyrics were the same. And I love that. Sometimes I think that people try to make everything so complex when they just don’t need to. The harmonies were beautiful and the songs were heartfelt, without all the cheese that sometimes can accompany that. The only thing I would change, if I could go back, is to turn around and slap the two girls standing behind me who were talking smack about the back-up vocalist/pianist. Excuse me, but she ROCKED. She was one of my favorite parts of the show and you two have the audacity to be whining about her HAIR during her show? Silly silly little girls. I’m glad I don’t run with your set. Get lost and never find your way home.

Sam Shelton:
I did, in fact, come to see Miss Sam Shelton. I’ve been hearing a lot about her these days and she is truly an amazing performer. Her style ranged from old/alt country to cabaret (in the most wonderful way possible – not in the Simon Cowell “that was so cabaret” slam). She doesn’t just stand and sing, she performs her songs, she seems to inhabit them and feel them with her entire being – this woman belongs on stage. She has an infectious presence that just takes over and fills up the room. And when Jeremy Connor took to the stage and started playing the saw, I was filled with joy over the expression and creativity of the human race! The sound he was evoking added such a striking element to the music. Sam needs to be hooked up with The Watson Twins. Yes she does. I think they would have a marvelous chemistry and it would be an amazing line up that I would love to see. The same back-up singer from Cory Chisel came and harmonized with Sam, and this time I was far far away from any trash talking and was able to marvel over the beauty of the moment.

Next time I will not have three margaritas before the show. This is the kind of music to be present for. (That being said… The Velvet Margarita across the street has $5 house blend all summer long WOOOO-HOOOO!)