So my friend hands me this flyer, and I'm checking it out: Burlap to Cashmere. They've got a gig going on up in The Bronx, of all places, and it's not just any gig--it's a block party, on the busiest shopping day of the year (you know, Black Friday). Intrigued, I commit to attending, and we lay plans to drag ourselves uptown at the unholy hour of 10 a.m.
When exiting the subway platform at 231st Street, you find a neighborhood fairly diverse in it's ethnic and economic makeup, something that always tends to make me feel at home. However, it's still hard to envision a Christian bookstore hosting a block party anywhere near The Bronx--doing something like that seems better suited to more Bible Beltish locales. Besides, wasn't this the day we were all to be in line at Toys 'R' Us, beating up our neighbors for that last Sing 'n' Snore Ernie?
The strains of warm-up were audible from blocks away, and as Burlap to Cashmere geared up and began playing, it seemed as if the entire western section of The Bronx, and some locations in Northern New Jersey, were able to hear what was going on. The neighborhood responded quickly: Some people threw open their windows in attempts to pin the tail on the ungodly racket, while others just smiled and began to tap their windowsills in appreciation of the funky beats drifting upward. Cops began to move to the rhythm, children danced, and families extricated themselves from their buildings and lingered for more than a moment before heading to a day of shopping.
The Broadway train rumbling overhead was no match for this sound, and, as the band began to play, it was clear they were in top form, having been on a nationwide tour since last August.
They started with the title track from their studio album, and went on to give listeners a healthy dose of musical energy, compiling a set they repeated later that day. (Twice as nice, in case you're wondering whether it was redundant.)
After having been a member of the appreciative crowd at a handful
of Burlap to Cashmere gatherings, this is what comes to mind: Here we have
a band capable of nothing less than a stellar performance. It seems that
with them, the only limitation in regard to show quality is the skill level
of the sound technician. Starting off a little murkier, the man on the
board spent the first couple songs fine tuning, after which I decided to
give him an A+ for a
job well done.
As the afternoon rolled in and the sun grew in intensity (happily
offsetting
the late November chills), approximately 150-200 people stopped
by to listen,
with countless passers by throwing at least a glance toward the
stage before
moving on. The diversity of the crowd was stunning, and was altogether
just as
interesting to watch as the goings on in front.
If, like me, you find it difficult to enjoy a show while packed into
a smoky
downtown venue and lunching off your neighbor's breathing space,
this was the
perfect way to enjoy a fantastic band that's headed for great things.
So, keep
your eyes peeled - mark my words, it won't be long before such informal
gatherings hosted by the boys from Brooklyn become a thing of the
past.
Set List
