Richard Shindell: Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA 9/28/2008

There’s something comforting about Richard Shindell.  He makes folk-oriented rock’n roll, simple, lovely, melodic, and lyrically engaging.  A troubadour of sorts, this Buenos Aires resident (by way of New York City) manages an engaging ease that not only endears him to the audience, but that beautifully complements the salt-of-the-earth, storytelling nature of his songs.  

While Shindell’s albums are good, ‘tis on stage that he truly shines.  He is a master of knowing, and engaging, his audience, seamlessly melding politics with stories of life on the road and songwriting, and topping it all off with comprehensively appealing songs.  With a now relatively-long career, too, Shindell has a significant catalogue from which to draw.  At his recent set at Seattle’s Tractor Tavern (which, in the mind of this writer, is one of the best venues in the city at which to truly get a feel for an artist, a place in which neither audience nor musician can easily hide), he ranged from old works (opener “The Kenworth Of My Dreams,” “Are You Happy Now?,” and closer “Reunion Hill”) to more recent works (“Somewhere Near Patterson,” “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy,” and a gorgeous rendition of “Cancion Sencilla,” an already-gorgeous song).  To the clear delight of the crowd, Shindell also pulled out some completely new music, to be released soon; if these songs are any indication, his songwriting is as strong as ever. 

Overall, Richard Shindell puts on a great show, and is worth seeing.  A masterful new-folkie, his music is strong, his performance skills exemplary, and his overall presence – well, really comfortable. 

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