The Good Time Dispatch: Karl Blau Is Back On Track With An Amazing New Album and Supporting Tour
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Karl Blau and his Germantown neighbors celebrate the last night of their tour at The Quilcene Lantern. Photo by Nigel O’Shea [/caption]
Event reporting by Nigel O’Shea
What: Karl Blau with St. Yuma
Where: The Quilcene Lantern, 7360 Center Rd, Quilcene, WA 98376
When: Wednesday, December 11th, 2024
How much: $20
Evening weather: Foggy night, watch your speed, watch for animals.
Most represented guitar: A jangly Danelectro.
Overall time had: 9. How amazing that we get this kind of show on a Wednesday night in Jefferson County!
On the closing night for the season (or at least until January), the Quilcene Lantern put an impeccable button on what has been a promising start for the local venue. Karl Blau has been a favorite in the area since touring with our beloved Solvents once upon a time. All the way from Germantown in Philadelphia, PA, Karl brought a versatile group without a drummer, creating a sound environment that was both playful and sparse while also fully flushed out. This is largely due to Blau’s intricate and interesting songwriting, where he embarks into musical corners that he doesn’t necessarily return to, leaving listeners wondering and wanting more. The set comprised the entirety of his new album Vultures of Love (which, upon my first cursory listen, proves to be frickin’ amazing!)
“Humor, warmth, humanness. In a world stewed in anger, it’s a rare performer who doesn’t take the bait. ”
Karl’s voice evokes a kindred timbre to Nashville’s Lambchop, working within the chugging guitar of the Velvet Underground while decorating that space with any and every spare tiny bit of instrumentation. Sweet singing harmonies weren’t left out. Pasadena brought the crowd its first taste of everyone working together and showing how connected they were with the material. Loose and free, seemingly almost making things up as they went along, the band mastered the set and brought their tour to a close with nothing left on the table. The groove in Taxes bled into the deeper groove of Back on Track (my favorite of the evening), where Blau demonstrates a timeless understanding of nonsense music that is in line with David Byrne, Peter Gabriel, Arthur Russell, or any of our other lauded creative weirdos. While The Night Is So Long and Vultures of Love continued with that taste of tinkering beats, guitar interludes, and lovely vocal harmonizing.
It was a cozy evening in the south cabin attached to the barn. The crowd was in various states of lounging and standing. It felt like an engagement with no rules, and Karl Blau is very much a performer who leaves you wondering if he has any barriers to his creativity. His lyrics are not apparently political but felt timely and informed, connecting the Olympic Peninsula with the streets of Philadelphia, a tour we were given on 23 and Me (“Everyone who drives in Philly gotta be crazy, but the bus drivers take the cake when it comes to that!”) Humor, warmth, humanness. In a world stewed in anger, it’s a rare performer who doesn’t take the bait. What Karl Blau lacks in a specific message, he exceeds in righteous connection, and if we’re to survive the coming years, connection is what we need the most of. Kudos, Karl Blau, we hope to see you again!
Editor’s Note: Though our brave reviewer could only make it out to The Quilcene Lantern for the second part of the evening, I was able to witness the greatness of St. Yuma. Their spacious quai-country sound reminded me of a more soulful Hiss Golden Messenger with a little bit of Air thrown in. In turns funky, psychedelic, and twangy, I’d see them again in a heartbeat. -NN
