It was just ten years ago that this reviewer saw Simone Felice perform with his band The Duke and the King which rates highly on one’s greatest shows ever list. So when Felice performs within a two-hour ride, it’s essential to attend; oh, and he has new music – an album All The Bright Coin that will be released in late January 2022.
Felice baptized Radio Woodstock’s new studio and performance space – a renovated former church – and kicked off the Steeple Sessions as they are dubbing concerts there. Initially a one-night fundraiser, it sold out so quickly they immediately added another night. And what a performance space! High ceilings, intimate space, a small and not-too-high stage lined with four dozen candles, nicely-spaced two-tops, room to stand along the sides and back, and a pleasant spot to the back for merch, beverages and those who need to chat.
Felice did not disappoint. He walked out onto the small stage alone save his big tumbler of whiskey and launched immediately into stripped down versions of “Mercy” and “If You Ever Get Famous.” Huskier than in the past (or as he said with a Covid belly), he sat on a stool center stage and hoisted his guitar. His eyes were mere slits and emotion vibrated throughout his body and in every lyric. Finally addressing the intimate crowd, he commented expansively on the beauty of the Catskills, Woodstock Radio’s new performance space, and the joy of performing again, strapped on his harmonica and played “The Devil is Real.”
He related his inability to write new music for himself. Not that he hasn’t been busy, co-writing and producing for others including The Lumineers new album, Jade Bird, Wesley Shultz, opener Diana DeMuth, and tracks for Shania Twain. He struggled but finally wrote Puppet which he saw as his final song, but it triggered more, and before he knew it, he had a bunch of new songs. He launched into three of them: “Puppet,” “Year Around the Sun” (joined by pianist David Baron) and “World’s Fair.” “World’s Fair” was spectacular as he read his poem, dropping the pages as he finished each one, accompanied by stark piano chords and ghostly guitar strums of Kieran Hebden.
Performing solo again, he bantered with the crowd, told stories, and played “New York Times” and “Your Belly In My Arms,” very personal songs. He brought out opener Diana DeMuth, percussionist Fer Fuentes, Baron and Hebden and got the crowd singing along, as is appropriate for church, closing with “You and I Belong,” “Running Through My Head” and “Bye Bye Palenville” including coming down into the crowd, standing on a luckily empty-at-the-time chair in the front row and leading the “choir” as they auditioned to be the Steeple Session Singers. After a very brief break, he encored solo with “Don’t Wake The Scarecrow” and the rest of the players joined him for a rousing “Radio Song.” He launched into a story of the early days of The Felice Brothers holed up in tiny house to write and record an early album and endlessly watching a VHS of The Last Waltz and closed with his favorite part of that movie – Neil Young’s “Helpless.” Felice bantered that he wanted his gravestone to say “He did songs.” What a show; indeed, he does songs..
Diane DeMuth, a singer-songwriter produced by Felice who has just finished up a tour with Jade Bird, opened the show with a short but emotional set that left many of us in the audience feeling like voyeurs. A simple presentation with her on guitar occasionally joined by Fuentes on percussion allowed her powerful songwriting and spectacular voice to shine. “Rose Of Nantucket” was devastating and the emotion shone through as though she had just written it yesterday. She’s off tour for a bit but check her out when you can and grab her debut album Misadventure.
