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the big takeover/Oct. 2003
the innocence mission/denison witmer
Fez, August 12
(By Mick Lewis) Witmer opened with a short solo acoustic set that mixed
songs from his new cover LP with older songs and ably conveyed his
understated yet passionate approach. His set was even shorter for me,
as I had to wait to be seated by the (understandably) harried host. By
the time Lancaster, PA’s TIM went onstage, I was uncomfortably ensconced at
the
merch table (I did sell 6 CDs though!), just a face in an over-capacity
crowd at the already cozy Fez, eagerly anticipating a special pre-LP release
show
for the splendid Befriended (see review in my reviews section).
Singer Karen Peris enthralled and enraptured the audience with her
wondrously ethereal voice. While Peris apologized for playing so much
new material, there was no need ? Befriended songs “When Mac was Swimming,”
“One for Sorrow, Two for Joy” and “Tomorrow on the Runway” were
amongst the many highlights of a set that was weighted heavily with
material from TIM’s more recent (and superior) LPs that it has made
since the departure of drummer Steve Brown (makes me wonder if other bands might
benefit from telling their sticksman to skedaddle). Still it was great
to hear a few excellent older songs in stripped down versions, including the
‘hit’ “Bright as Yellow” and “Keeping Awake,” during which the
bridge
from Simon & Garfunkel’s “Homeward Bound” was interpolated to
magnificent effect.
My faith in music that uplifts without being ponderous is rekindled in
my soul and etched on my heart every time I have watched the soft-spoken
Peris’s countenance beam with an angelic radiance whilst she sings.
This concert was the musical highlight of my summer. You don’t have to
take
my word for it ? I hear that Soulseek users have been able to find a
fairly good digital recording of this show. I’ve also heard vicious
rumors that the
murmur of this reviewer’s voice (and his date’s) is audible during breaks
between
songs.
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