The Tao of Steve

Last night, my 3-year-old daughter and I played church. It was her idea, the first time we've ever played this game. We've just started going to church again, and it's a new experience for her.

In the game, as she conceived it, we would kneel and receive communion and then I would be the priest and take Audrey, her baby sister, who was being played by a stuffed panda bear, to be Baptized (or "bab-i-tized").

And as I was kneeling, Steve Forbert's Evergreen Boy blasted loud and clear from my stereo speakers there in the den, only a few feet away. And I thought, "Yes, I do belong to the church of rock-n-roll." It was so right, so perfect. I've had similar thoughts before about the power of rock-n-roll, but to enact it, unselfconsciously, with my daughter...it did my soul as much good as any church-going Sunday.

I'm an old soul with plans
I'm a dreamhead that can
Make a new start, I guess
If the landscape says "yes"

Call me--
Evergreen Boy, Evergreen Boy
Evergreen Boy, Evergreen Boy

So, what is it about this CD? Is it really that powerful? Even with a singer who my wife says sounds like Sterling Holloway (aka the voice of Pooh Bear)?

"Powerful" probably isn't the right word. Rather, the music is organic. No solos. Not much in the way of electric guitar, but lots of acoustic guitar, organ and horns - tenor and baritone sax and trumpet - a new thing for Steve. It's clear and bright and it works, it rocks.

Forbert is more a folk singer/songwriter than a rocker, although, backed by members of Wilco, he rocked nicely on 1996's Rocking Horse Head, an overlooked gem (although the term "overlooked" in regard to Forbert is somewhat redundant). He's a sensitive everyman with a guitar, even tagged as a "new Dylan" when he hit the scene in 1978 with Live on Arrival.

To his credit, he has changed up his sound with these more recent outings. But it doesn't feel forced; there's a strong thread of Steve's confident voice, his gift for songwriting, his acoustic guitar and trusty harmonica.

Article Author: George Partington

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