On one of the rocking chairs is a middle aged man. He's worked hard in cotton fields every day of his life, yet still manages to keep from looking sun-browned. A hollow, lean face with high cheek bones and a skin texture that looks smoke and whiskey cured. With the dust everywhere, his expression is blank and somber. An expression to stake fear into experienced poker players.
Now take that man and fast forward to the present and put in on stage with a bass in our favorite goth.punk.alt.country band, Sixteen Horsepower. And keeping the above description while infusing a passion for the music that just pulsates from him. Being on stage is a deeply religious experience, internally. There is the somber mask, but it was peaceful, unlike being in a dust bowl would be. And then there would be a moment when the mask would break and he'd start to mouth along with the song, his eyes closed and every movement like an intimate prayer.
All of this clicked together and the three men on stage were like heavy machinery grinding together in perfect harmony. For some of the earlier songs in the discography, Edwards would take out an ancient instrument that brings to our modern minds an accordion. But, nay, it's bigger and closes into a box and is called a "bandonian." Simular to an accordion in that you push buttons and pull and push a bellows that creates sound through the movement of air. However, instead of being a whine, the bandonian creates a low drone, not unlike an organ at a church if you press the bass notes. The instrument is also about 5 times longer and heavier than your accordion. You take this gigantic beast and pull it apart with inhuman force while pushing buttons for whatever tone you want. Then, once it's all spread out on your lap and your arms are in the crucifixion position, you force the damn thing back together. It was incredible.
The evening passed like a dream. Here it's three weeks later and I still get goosebumps thinking about it. I have trouble imagining anyone not appreciating the show, even if they don't like the music (which can be an acquired taste, I will admit). So please. If you are so blessed that 16 Horsepower ever visits your city stop by and experience.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Excellent job, TT, sounds like an amazing show. You didn't remind me about it.
2 - Mark Saleski
i've only got Low Estate (which i love).
any opinions on what else to pick up?
3 - The Theory
heh, sorry eric. Next time I do a cleveland show I'll have this email nuclear war and send a blitz of reminders your way ;-)
Mark, if you love Low Estate, Sackcloth & Ashes would have a fairly simular feel to it, though it's a bit rougher. Secret South (which somehow did not end up on my Amazon links) becomes a bit smoother. Folklore has a delightful folk feel to it. It's really hard to go wrong with the band...
4 - J
I was lucky enough to see them twice and to promote both shows! Dang shame they broke up. At least we still have Woven Hand (his other project.)
5 - tim lentz
yeah, i saw these guys open for morphine back in 98, and both bands were damned amazing, if you ask me -- they would have stolen the show from any other band than morphine. all in all, it was a real festival of dark, devil-obsessed music, taken from a couple of different, but complementary, angles. whew! i still look back fondly on that concert.