AFULL house greeted Austin-raised fiddleplaying vocalist Carrie Rodriguez when she took to the stage for Jumpin’ Hot Club’s Little Theatre gig. The intimate old theatre was ideal for her stylish playing.
Her material contained shades of jazz, rock, old-time and country music, and as she exchanged her fiddle for guitar and bouzouki, the raven-haired beauty turned heads, notably with 50’s French Movie.
For those unfamiliar with Mary Gauthier, she made her recording debut later than many, but the knowledge gained from a colourful life has served her well. Her songs and accompanying stories conjure up characters ranging from Last of The Hobo Kings to Christmas in Paradise, and, on returning to the subject of her own old demon, alcohol, she thrilled the audience with her much requested I Drink.
Gauthier was aided for the most part by Rodriguez, who made her sad-eyed blues sound even sadder, and the partnership provided arguably her most commanding work.
But after Rodriguez departed the stage, the Baton Rouge singer-songwriter was far from finished and, if anything, her songs became stronger and the evening more intimate.
Maurice Hope
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