[FM] Les Sampou at the New Song Coffeehouse (Bedford, Mass.)

[Roberta Schwartz]

Hi Folks:

I just wanted to let you all know about a superior concert I attended 
at one of the Boston area's best venues.  Here it is:

Les Sampou with opener Dan Pelletier
Saturday, February 19th
A New Song Coffeehouse
Bedford, Mass.
8 p.m.

Eastern Massachusetts has some of the best acoustic listening rooms 
in the country, and A New Song Coffeehouse in Bedford, Massachusetts 
is one of the best.  Known for its warmth and hospitality and the 
enthusiasm of man in charge, Jerry Christen, it's always a pleasure 
to see a performance there.  And, the volunteers do a great job with 
the sound and desserts.  Come to the First Church of Christ and enjoy!

Les Sampou, Rounder Records recording artist extraordinaire, made one 
of her many Boston area appearances there on Saturday night.  But, 
before Les took the stage, we were treated to Brooklyn-based 
piano-playing singer/songwriter Dan Pelletier.  According to his 
press kit, he has a catalog of over 500 songs.  This guy is prolific! 
Armed with a soulful voice and an armful of mostly self-deprecating 
songs that focus on his newly single life, he is capable of moving a 
crowd as well with the imagined life story of a homeless man.  It's 
great to see an artist out there who performs behind a keyboard.  I 
liked his song about the circus, "Dancing with the Circus Bear," 
which compares the balancing of a relationship with taking steps with 
the big bear.  It was a great opening set.

 From rock to blues to folk, Les Sampou's range is remarkable.  Noted 
for her skill on slide guitar and blues style on both covers and her 
own compositions, she is one talented singer and songwriter.  In his 
introduction, Jerry told the audience that there are only a few 
favorite performers at A New Song Coffeehouse, and that Les is one of 
that select group.  Evidently the folks at Rounder Records first 
heard her perform at Jerry's place and signed her up immediately! 
They know talent when they see it.

Les opened with a blues set, begining with covers of "Statesboro 
Blues" and Bessie Smith's "It Won't Be You," her great blues revenge 
song.  She followed those with a great cover of John Hiatt's "Icy 
Blue Heart," which has recently been covered by Emmylou Harris.

At that point she brought out her frequent collaborator Tom Young, 
who plays expert guitar with the duo Acousticity.  And can he play 
guitar.  He embroidered lines around Les' melodies that made them 
sing.  He's truly a find.

 From the first set, "Hanging by a Thread," introduced the theme of 
her third and latest recording, the self-titled LES SAMPOU.  It tells 
us all about finding strength in the midst of personal adversity. 
"Home Again" and "Fall From Grace" tell great stories and this is one 
of the things that Les does best - weave a tale and let her voice 
spin circles around the lyrics.

She closed the first set with the rocking "The Things I Should Have 
Said."  Don't we all wish we had said just the right words when we 
had the opportunity to say them?

The second set picked up the pace with one outstanding tune after 
another, mixing a blues tune, with a rock song and back again. 
"Happy Anniversary" is a song about the progress of a failed 
relationship displaying a huge range of emotions, taking Les' supple 
voice from low to high, love to anger.  Its discordant chords keep 
you at the edge of your seat - where will the story and melody take 
you next?

"Holyland" is one of Les' best.  It tells a tale of a family that is 
down but not quite out, with the main character pinning her hopes on 
the one who got out - waiting for his song to come on the radio.

"Chinatown" is a Sampou-penned blues tune played on the slide guitar. 
Hearing Les on slide is a slice of heaven.

So, if you like great stories in song, and a singer who can belt out 
the blues, rock you with great rhythm and original melodies, and has 
a voice that can be tender and sweet, or moving and mesmerizing, 
check out Les Sampou.  She never disappoints.

Complete set list:

Statesboro Blues
It Won't Be You
Icy Blue Heart
Home Again
Fly
Alibis
Sitting on Jupiter
Hanging by a Thread
Fall From Grace
The Things I Should Have Said

String of Pearls
Nature's Song
Bootleg Blues
Happy Anniversary
Holyland
Ride the Line
Chinatown
I Already Know
Two Strong Arms (Encore)

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Roberta B. Schwartz
rschwartz@oeb.harvard.edu
Staff Writer, Music Matters Review
http://www.mmreview.com
Reviewer and Review editor, FAME
http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/famehome.htm
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