Newark’s historic Midland Theater was warmed Sunday night
by the glow of shared talent and middle aged love. For a Valentine’s Day
show Singer/ Songwriter Marc Cohn returned to his Ohio roots for an intimate
set of his best loved works and a few tracks off his upcoming “Listening
Booth” album. The Midland Theatre is a central Ohio gem, and if you haven’t
had the opportunity to visit this venue do so as soon as possible. Beautifully
restored to its Art Deco grandeur; it is the perfect size for an acoustic concert
or stage production. (http://www.midlandtheatre.org/)
Opening the evening was Kristina Train. This newcomer just released her first
album in October, but she is no stranger to the art. She mentioned she had toured
with Marc a couple of years ago, but she still seemed awkward on stage, her
banter between songs stiff and her stage presence lacking. However, she looks
like a young Jennifer Connelly and has a deep, sultry, throaty, spiritual voice
well trained and capable of high notes reminiscent of Norah Jones and Vonda
Shepard. She performed a full 9 song set from her album Spilt Milk. The title
track is haunting and evocative of simpler times; as was her entire set. The
highlight was I Can’t But Help, a lyrical song with a poignant melody.
Expect to hear her on soundtracks soon: her voice is simply beautiful.
After an extended intermission where Ms. Train signed albums in the rear of
the auditorium Marc Cohn took the stage to a very warm welcome. While there
was a smattering of youth in the audience the most common descriptor could be
retired white professional. Mr. Cohn greeted the audience, saying it was good
to be back in Ohio again. He started with the song “One Safe Place”
and continued with “Ghost Train.” He set the tone for the evening
joking and sharing with the audience; telling us about growing up in Ohio; how
“Ghost Train” was written about his mother, the next song he sang
“Silver Thunderbird,” was about his dad. Later he sang and described
“Perfect Love” - how his brother met his future wife in Cleveland
and how their love took them from Shaker Heights to the world’s fair to
a country lane in Connecticut. Before singing “The Calling” he introduced
his “band” Shane Fontaine. This guitarist is phenomenal and showed
his mettle on a perfect guitar solo. After, Cohn commented “I’ve
heard him play that solo a lot of times and even I was a little excited…that
was pretty good.”
Cohn spoke about modern music performance and recorded tracks, joked with the
audience about using a pre-recorded drum line on one song. He threatened to
dance like Ashley Simpson on Saturday Night Live if he didn’t count out
the bars correctly and held up fingers to make sure he didn’t have to
follow through with his threat. He called his “unplugged, organic, authentic
thing” passé and said if he were called out for an encore he would
hang above the audience spinning cirque du soliel style like Pink. (Although
he did say her Grammy performance was tremendous.) He said he left his wife
at home with two sick little boys so “enjoy the night knowing the pain
and discomfort you’ve caused my family; Happy Valentine’s Day!”
Show highlights were “Listening to Levon” with guest vocals by Train
and the audience requested “Olana”. The back-story of artist Fredrick
Edwin Church, crippled by disease, who built his home Olana; literally “house
of treasures,” is moving when you know Marc’s personal struggles
and health issues. Of course, everyone was waiting for “Walking in Memphis”
and Marc did not disappoint. He spun a tale of how a struggling songwriter listened
to James Taylor tell how he traveled to write and proceeded to buy plane tickets
to parts unknown. His first, and as it turned out only, stop was Memphis –
the land of silt and blues and voodoo. Cohn told how he stumbled into the Hollywood
Café and onto Muriel Davis, a 65 year old gospel maven who was his muse
and taught him “everything a Jewish boy from Cleveland” didn’t
know. Marc described how he went home and developed his album, for the first
time music he liked; music that was “authentic and real” and he
went back and played it for Muriel. She said “that one where you mention
me is the best one” and he said “maybe she was right” although
she didn’t live to hear it on the radio. When the keyboard started to
plink out that mournful tune the audience was all his and when he broke it down
into a live version that was bluesy and messy and wonderful they loved him.
He closed the show with a couple of covers from his new album. Cohn offered
to sign albums for fans after.
The audience was not sated and Marc, Shane and Kristina returned for an acoustic
and interesting cover of “Wild One.” The encore finished with a
raw, exquisite, naked version o f “True Companion”, apropos for
the holiday. The show was exactly as Cohn promised; a lovely intimate evening.
Check out the Cover interview with Marc HERE
HOME
Review by Linsey Griffith
Photos by David Heasley