The North Star Lounge in Ann Arbor was the scene of an invigorating evening of daredevil Americana music thanks to the exceptionally talented Annie and Rod Capps Quartet.
Annie and Rod Capps Quartet
I’ve got a couple of confessions to make. I’m not a huge fan of folk music, and this was the first time I saw the Annie and Rod Capps Quartet. Thankfully (joyfully?) I can say that the Annie and Rod Capps Quartet are not traditional folk. I’m not even sure if Americana is the right word, even though I used it in the lead line.
No, my friends, this quartet subverts my notion of folk music. When I think of “folk,” I hear a story set to song with a tried and true arrangement. It’s not bad; it just doesn’t have the spices I enjoy. What the Annie and Rod Capps Quartet created during their performance at the North Star Lounge was a musical series of snapshots that were wonderfully spiced.
Smiling as the Annie and Rod Capps Quartet played, I heard short stories, reflections, and observations set against marvelous music that seemed to bubble and boil with piquancy. Where traditional folk or Americana tastes to me like beef stew, the music of the Annie and Rod Capps Quartet is a heaping bowl of delicious jambalaya. You know that zesty, tangy deliciousness that has you reaching for another bowl after the first taste.
Daredevils of Folk
For those unfamiliar with these daredevils of untraditional folk music, the Annie and Rod Capps Quartet is Annie Caps (guitar, lead vocals), Rod Capps (guitar, violin, backing vocals), Jason Dennie (mandolin, backing vocals), and Ozzie Andrews (bass). They started with “Mr. Crow” off their latest album, Love and Rain. The bouncy cadence belies the contemplative lyrics. It was the perfect way to start a show where you know you’ll aim high and take chances.
Annie then reveals that the rest of their set will showcase new music. She worries out loud that the band may not be prepared and hopes the audience is ready for whatever may unfold. I’m immediately hit with feeling like I should stand up and shout, “Hell Yeah,” but I restrain myself. It takes courage to create your art and put it on display. I love it when artists laugh in the face of danger as they bare their souls on the stage.
Oh, That Spice!
The new music is superb. While I’m not as well-versed as long-time fans, I was captivated by this performance by the Annie and Rod Capps Quartet. You can sense their years of creating together lends an effortless air to the music. That tangy spice of chords, sweet licks, and tumbling bass lines gives this music depth of body and heart.
As I listened and watched this band perform, the reflective nature of some of the new songs had me ruminating on my past, present, and future. I wonder how many others thought, “Oh, man, I can relate to that!”? I guess quite a few, given the heartfelt applause after each song.
Back On The Ground
The Annie and Rod Capps Quartet touched down on familiar ground with a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.” The audience sang along, adding the warmth of family and friends to another fine evening of music at the North Star Lounge.
Pictures
There are more pictures from the Annie and Rod Capps Quartet at the North Star Lounge in our gallery.
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