Cass McCombs Gives Brooklyn’s Murmurr Electric Energy & Holy Vibes (SHOW REVIEW)

It is a strange experience to see a rock band in a big Jewish temple. There’s a sense that you’re in the presence of something greater, something holy. And that was the case when Cass McCombs took the stage at one such venue, Brooklyn’s Murmurr. A sold-out crowd showed up on a frigid night to worship at the altar of McCombs and his band, as they played songs off his recently released Tip of the Sphere. It was just one of back-to-back sold out shows in New York City, but McCombs brought everything to Murmurr and played a lengthy set.

Opening for McCombs was Sam Evian, led by Sam Owens who engineered Tip of the Sphere. The comfort level between McCombs and Owens was evident in the fluid way Owens moved in and out of McCombs’ set, playing saxophone and singing harmonies. Owens and his band played a set of groovy tunes off their 2018 release You, Forever, including “IDGAF,” “Country” and “Next to You,” sweetening the stage for McCombs to take over. Despite the sketchy acoustics that come from playing in a vast wooden temple, they brought sun-drenched harmonies to the dark paneled room and made it difficult to remain in a seat and not dance.

The turnover was quick and McCombs brought a sizeable band to the stage with two guitarists (in addition to his own), a pedal steel, multiple percussionists and more. His voice rose about the hearty arrangements most on “I Followed the River South to What,” Tip of the Sphere’s opening track and one of its catchiest. He brought the same electric energy and warm vibes to “Sidewalk Bop After Suicide,” “Estella” and “Sleeping Volcanoes.” Deep cuts took us by delighted surprise, especially 2011’s “County Line,” 2013’s “Brighter!” and 2007’s “Crick in My Neck.” Elsewhere in his set, a stripped down, quieter moment came with the crooner “Absentee,” which he did with just the steel guitar, keys and Owens on the saxophone as accompaniment. It was a lovely moment of McCombs howling gently to the heavens, or in this case, the dramatic wood chandeliers that hung from the high ceiling. Truly holy.

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