It’s Thursday night and the audience that fills the small room at Paard van Troje in Den Haag, was fortunate to host not just one, but two American singer song-writers of the highest calibre. The gifted Grant Lee Phillips (of Grant Lee Buffalo fame) was accompanied on the shared billing by the much travelled and often regarded as an elder statesman of Americana, Howe Gelb (formerly of the band Giant Sand).From the outset it felt that the largely one hundred plus and seemingly mainly over-30s crowd, would experience something slightly beyond the ordinary, something unique, and something from two talented musicians who genuinely deserved to be listened to.
By: Peter Leggett
For me, I had first heard Grant Lee Phillips’ voice back in 1993, when a friend played me the title track ‘Fuzzy’, from his group’s (Grant Lee Buffalo) first album of the same name – and “wow” what an impact it had at that time, and still for a long time since. 21 years, 5 group albums and 7 solo album releases later (his most recent being back in 2012, with ‘Walking in the Green Corn’), I finally got to witness Grant Lee Phillips perform live, with his sparring partner of choice for this tour, Howe.
Grant Lee wasted no time getting started, opening up with ‘Strangest Thing’ (from his 2009 solo release ‘Little Moon’), though this was not before he excused himself to the audience for his voice. The impact of the cold and wet, and perhaps the almost three months of their American and European tour, was clearly on his mind as he arrived on stage with guitar in hand, and a scarf adorning his neck. The crowd warmly applauded his entrance and understandably each time again at the end of his opening nine songs. This was met in return by an equally pleasant and endearing grin from the face of man who evidently enjoys performing to those who wish and have chosen to listen, as both he and Howe certainly have some good things to say.
When he’s four songs into the set and the audience becomes increasingly entertained.It is time for Grant Lee to deliver ‘Fuzzy’, which he candidly executes and sings impeccably. Even the higher notes, which one might have thought would have challenged him on this night (wet and cold), he delivers like an old pro in his stride. After the final song, Howe Gelb entered from the stage to join Grant Lee Phillips for their own brief musical union, before launching into his own unique repertoire. Amongst the tracks they performed alongside each other was a sublime version of The Velvet Underground’s ‘Pale Blue Eyes’, from their 1969 self-titled album. Watching both men on stage together it was apparent that they each share a similar joy when performing, complementing each other as musicians often do, and interacting with each other and the crowds with respect, courtesy and positive intent.
No sooner than Grant Lee departed and Howe had arrived by his pain and guitars, on the opposing side of the stage to where Grant Lee was stood, the crowd moved closer in. It was as though they naturally sought or felt a different kind of intimacy with the American song smith, one which Howe seemed to welcome, if not always he seemed to acknowledge visually due to the cap covering his eyes for much of the show. I am sure I did see a full on facial smile at one point!
During, ‘Man on a String’ he utilised the headstock tuning keys of his guitar to accompany his own playing, by simultaneously playing the piano, thus giving the crowd a visual as well as an aural treat. One onlooker described it afterwards as a standout moment: ‘Like a minstrel performing at a Southern jamboree.’
Both artists, Grant Lee Phillips and Howe Gelb did their utmost to captivate their audience, each with their own unique flavour and individual approaches to Americana. Neither seemed overly competitive with the other when sharing the limelight. In fact, they seemed quite complimentary.
Photography: Peter Leggett