Burlap To Cashmer In Concert at the Cup ‘O Joy Music Venue
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Seated near the stage in the close, comfortable
setting of the Cup to take in Burlap To Cashmere (B2C), I could feel my growing
sense of anticipation mix with that of the crowd surrounding me. Being a
long-time fan of B2C, I never expected a second album after a 15-year hiatus,
much less seeing them live in a close setting! The Brooklyn, New Jersey, New
York-based band is lead by Steven Delopoulos (songwriter,
lead vocals, guitar) and John Philippidi
(lead guitar, percussion, vocals) with Theodore Pagano (drums, percussion,
vocals), Michael Ernest (rhythm guitar,
percussion, vocals) and Robbie Guarnera (bass, vocals).
The lights dim, the band leaves the
artist’s lounge and makes the short climb to the stage as the audience greets.
The night holds something very special in store as the set unfolds:
- “Love Reclaims the
Atmosphere” - Philippidi and Delopoulos take the stage with vocals as
crisp and clear as Simon and Garfunkel duets to begin the evening on a
mellow note, this song highlights Delopoulos’ ability to ‘paint’ poetry
into music.
- “Anybody Out There” - the five-piece
band unites with a slow, mellow melody building to Philippidi’s guitar
blazing.
- “Orchestrated Love Song” -
continues the pace with lyrics matching roaming guitars and lyrics together
developing great imagery. If ever passion inhabited a song this is it.
- “Skin is Burning” – soft
beginnings lead to hot rhythm with Greek overtone.
- “Fancy Woods” – the first
song written by Delopoulos as a teen is acoustic, clear and youthful.
- “Tonight” – deep,
trembling guitar leads into Delopoulos’ clear, vibrant vocals giving his
poetry deeper meaning. This song is highlighted by an elongated finish
with Philippidi’s extraordinary lead solo as the music moves from his
fingers, through the guitar, through his body ending with all moving as
one to music and moment.
- “Digee Dime” – an awesome
guitar solo highlighted by the rhythm guitarists addition on percussion
gives this time tested favorite new life.
- “Chop, Chop” - written in
high school by Delopoulos, another favorite of early B2C fans. This song
continues to shine; ageless.
- “Nehemiah (Build A Wall)”
– this song, like so many B2C songs, takes on a new quality when performed
live. Here, with hot vocals and melody, Ernest shares percussion with
Pagano while Delopoulos accents lyrics with an earthy, organic vocal
cadence. Philippidi’s guitar sores to new heights.
- “Other Country” – when Delopoulos’
grandfather told him while on his death bed ‘I can see the other country’
he gave light to lyrics telling of Christian life leading to heaven. This
is a very, very special moment, emotional for the singer / songwriter,
band and audience alike.
- “Live in a Van” – a fictitious
look at the life of a modern day musician, rambling and fun with an impromptu
country-like break to comedic vocals of life in Wisconsin.
- “Basic Instructions Before
Leaving Earth” (BIBLE) – the song
that catapulted B2C up CCM charts in the late ‘90s will always be a
highlight of their shows. The story behind the title is of an old acquaintance,
Jerry Bolt, whose studio they once recorded in saying ‘Steve, you know
what this means?” pointing to the Bible’s title. “It means ‘Basic
Instructions Before Leaving Earth’”. Following Philippidi’s guitar solo, Pagano
soloed on drums with Philppidi joining in on percussion for a raucous solo
with the song setting new heights.
- ‘Eileen’s Song’ - Delopoulos
performs a solo acoustic version having the audience join him for the
chorus at song’s end.
- “Wallfly” - Philippidi
joins Delopoulos for a rendition of this tune from Delopoulos’ first solo
project, Straight Jacket. Together,
this song has a comedic edge showcasing their chemistry and relationship.
- “The Boxer” - again
Delopoulos and Philippidi join to give their rendition of the seminal
Simon And Garfunkel hit, one they often played together in their youth
long before there was a Burlap To Cashmere. Their duet is so clear and
vibrant the listener is taken back to the late ‘60s / early ‘70s.
- As the remaining members
of the band join Delopoulos and Philippidi on stage, the quality of long
time friendship and family was evident as Philippidi would make fun of
incidents in their shared youth with Delopoulos imitating a youthful
incident with his father while on his knees acting as a child. As laughs
mix with applauds, the band breaks into a comical Greek song with lyrics,
‘Wa hoo wa hoo hoo wa, you’re my number one for sure young son, I’m going
to take you to Washington, you’re going to be my number on for sure. Wa
hoo wa hoo hoo wa.’ The song climaxes as Guarnera
takes a death-defying (LOL) leap from
a chair and Ernst kicks out his final guitar lick as the last note
sounds.
- “Dial God” – Delopoulos and Philippidi
show how their long time chemistry on this tune written in Delopoulos’
youth. Philippidi concludes the song with a guitar solo of Greek influence
with the band coming in at the end and Delopoulos reciting a prayer to the
heated music.
- “Mansions” - the crowd
would not allow B2C to leave without an encore, which Delopoulos gave in a
solo, acoustic version of “Mansions”. Midway though the song the entire
band joined him on stage singing the chorus to end the evening.
What stays with the audience is the poetry and lead
vocals of Delopoulos, the unbelievable guitar work of Philippidi, the tightness
of the band’s rhythm, and the close relationship of the band as the music and
the night sweep us away to another, more beautiful, simpler time. In my
time I have seen many concerts crossing many genres. Seeing Burlap To Cashmere
is more that outstanding, it is one of life’s great moments. Without a second
thought I would rank the B2C concert in my top 5 and a must see again and again
NOTES:
·
A new Burlap To
Cashmere album is in the works! See the following link for all the fun details:
·
For more recent Burlap To Cashmere news, see the
Steven Delopoulos interview and the Lifest Christian Festival review in this
issue of The Phantom Tollbooth.
Scott S Mertens
5 Tocks
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