 The Filibuster
Arriving at the Masonic Temple was a little confusing, it is a huge building. After realizing I needed to take the elevator up to the 4th floor everything was sunshine and lollipops. Walking into the Commander Room was stunning. The entire room had a glow with its antique flair. I couldn't get over how pretty the setting was and how shiny the floor was. I wanted to throw on a ballroom gown and dance.
The stage had a backdrop of what appeared to be an old building with a black door in the center. Trees also covered the stage in between the array of instruments. Charles Phillips was our "curator" for the evening. He welcomed us with a humor, good spirit, and note cards for his speech.
Kevin Long launched the party by playing two of his original songs and his favorite Willie Nelson song which he just learned how to play. Kevin mentioned that no one would be interested in just a guy with a guitar, I disagree. That is a huge part of the local scene, people dig it. Kevin Long has a distinct voice, personality, and ability to perform. He was a perfect fit to warm up the theater with music.
Charles Phillips took the stage again and introduced Karli Fairbanks. But before she came on stage he read us the lyrics to her song "Bitterblue" in German. It was pretty funny, Karli played it for us in English too. Karli's known Joel since she has been playing music in Spokane so it was cool the two got to play together. She was excited his album was finally done... I think he was too. Scott Ellis on the steel guitar and Caleb Ingersoll on drums joined her completing the first Karli Fairbanks three piece I have ever seen live.
 There was one funny moment during her set. She mentioned earlier how she kept hearing a beep or a hum. Towards the end of her set she realized it was Joel's phone by her feet, he came out and grabbed it. Karli always sounds flawless she has an incredible voice and is one of Spokane's best female musicians. I will never get board seeing her live, she continues to impress me every time.
Before Joel Smith and the Slippery Tones took the stage Charles came out one more time. This time the curtain closed and he told us a story with the help of his yo-yo about his Uncle Al in Paris. Every sentence or so he would use his yo-yo string to create a picture or even his yo-yo as a prop. It was funny and really cool. I wouldn't last a second with a yo-yo before I tangled it up.
A second after Charles walked off stage, Joel appeared in front of the curtain with his guitar and started to play. Moments later the curtain drew to a plethora of instruments on stage. Slowly two by two the band joined him from the black door. It looked really cool, a grand entrance without a doubt.
Joel's band was called the Slippery Tones for the night because there were so many of his friends playing. More then the Hands of Plenty, and there are plenty of them. Jamie Frost joined in on guitar for a few songs, Jessica Hand sang on two songs, Karli sang on a few songs as well, Mark Ward (who is also in the Hands of Plenty) played the guitar and a cool key flute instrument, Carmen played the saxophone, and Kim Wescott played her violin for a song. There was a ton of kids on stage and it sounded perfect. Not a single glitch or mistake.
 The room carried every key, note, beat, and lyric throughout its levels smoothly. During a few of the songs it was a lot of fun to see Joel's friends dancing in the back and clapping along. People were having a great time, I knew I was. We were treated with 8 out of 10 of the songs on his new album "The Filibuster," which is wonderful by the way, so overall it was a perfect Tuesday night. It was cool to be a part of the audience at that show.
Joel Smith is an important musician in Spokane. Ending the night with the last song on the album "The White Zone is for Immediate Loading and Unloading of Passengers Only" we unloaded from the Masonic Temple with smiles on our faces and banjo notes in my head.
Check out more photos from show here!
Andrea@checkitoutmusic.com |
