The names and faces ... they're not all the same but they're usually familiar.
But that's not always the case up in Bayzo's Pub on Main Street in Brewster. Tucked into some back corner of the Ocean Edge Resort, it more resembles an MC Esher drawing of stairways that lead to elevators and parking lots over walkways.
The brick walls aren't always an acoustics' best friend but the cavernous concept you had to walk three flights down to find somehow has a 2 story view ... that's where Catie Flynn settled into the corner and for a set on Friday, 19 Dec.
Luckily there was a lively table in the dining area proper for most of the show. When they left the room more resembled an orchestra pit. One other trips to the same room, we've found the different in acoustics, and general live-music-listening-vibe, between the bar area (quite nice, to be sure) and the area where the singers make supper is akin to walking in from outside.
Catie was strumming Fast Car, a young girl from the lively dinner table on vocals. The music teacher in Catie is maybe always on duty. There was some Bruce Springsteen, there was some Neil Young - all good, all well done, all welcome standards in the acoustic sting'd sand land. But where Catie separates herself (aside from the Winehouse renditions she'll bless you with) are with her originals.
This Friday she laid "How Are You Really" and "Delicate" out for the room. They were both great - our scribbled napkins relay a foray into the frayed notebook dirge - played & sung all gas, no clutch, power shifted emotion.
Like so many of the performers we relish out here, Catie plays her solo shows, she plays in her duo with Pat Croke (Salted Folk) and she plays with a newly formed band, The Wildflower Lane. Her voice is so singular and terrifically unexpected - higher than you imagine even now that you read about it. But so excellent, the loss of her gift and the possible overlap to glory paired with a Graham Nash & Emmy Lou Harris is lost to the simple reality time was not on our side this time.
We recommend you go see & hear Catie when you can. And if you need a lesson, she'll take in-person applications.
