Live: Mark Eitzel Sings American Music Club @ Les Poisson Rouge 7.19.9

When he's on, there are few singers that are as wonderful as Mark Eitzel. You should be aware of him from fronting American Music Club, but I guess there is the odd chance that you maybe got into him via his Peter Buck collaborations. If you are not aware of his greatness, might I suggest you stop reading this babbling and grab a copy of Mark Eitzel: Songs Of Love Live immediately. There are few better solo acoustic records.

Live, especially solo, Eitzel can be a trainwreck, melting down on a level I've rarely encountered this side of crazy women I've taken home. At best, the worst sets can be filled with stopped, repeated, or out and out aborted songs. That's bad, but when he reverts into his second defense mechanism of constant joking, it can get even more wearisome. It was always nicer with Danny Pearson or Vudi around to slap him back into line. This night was just Mark and sometime AMC keysman Mark Cappelle accompanying on piano. Save for a horrific choice of shirts, Mark seemed in good spirits, aborting only one song (The Patriot's Heart), which he redid for the encore. Not too much in the way of old stuff, or much AMC at all, now that I think about it. It was mildly interesting to find that one of the newer songs (I Think Decibels and The Little Pills) was about going to an Earthless show, but I would have liked to have heard a couple more songs and a little less patter, but again it's pretty much par for the course. Mark was pretty candid about being woefully unprepared for the shows, as he's finishing up the new AMC record and a solo record with Peter Buck. Here's hoping that the shows get a little tighter and that those records are more of a return to form. Here's the rest of the dates (they are in Hoboken at Maxwells tomorrow).

Sat 7/18 New York, NY at Le Poisson Rouge
Sun 7/19 Hudson, NY at Jason’s Upstairs
Mon 7/20 Hoboken, NJ at Maxwell’s
Tue 7/21 Boston. MA at Lizard Lounge
Wed 7/22 Albany NY at Lindas at WAMC
Thu 7/23 Rochester, NY at Lovin’ Cup Cafe
Fri 7/24 Buffalo, NY at Marty & Susan’s House
Sat 7/25 Baltimore, MD at Metro Gallery
Sun 7/26 Chapel Hill, NC at Memorial Hall Theatre w/ She&Him & Wye Oak (part of the Merge XX celebration)
Mon 7/27 Arlington, VA at IOTA Club
Tue 7/28 Philadelphia, PA at Johnny Brenda’s
Wed 7/29 Brooklyn, NY at Bell House

AMC is playing Merge Fest next weekend, if you're in the neighborhood. If you're not, here's the AMC web presence and Mark's site.

xo

R