Texans and Telecasters

Sprout is spoiling live music lovers.

It's gotten to the point where a Monday night show isn't even all that unusual.

For that matter, looking at their August calendar (and today is only the first), there were already shows planned for every night except four.

And shows of all kinds: folk, metal, indie rock. Now if only they'd get the shows started before 10:30.

But a late starting time allows for conversation and food beforehand and their kitchen accommodates that (admittedly, the amount of conversation they offer varies).

Tonight I broke bad and had the chocolate raspberry torte, a decadent slice of very dark chocolate studded with fresh raspberries throughout and covered in real whipped cream.

As Chef Laurie said, "That other stuff isn't whipped cream." Amen to that. Give me full fat whipping cream every time.

Unbelievably, I couldn't even finish it. Now, at 1:30, it seems to be no problem.

On tonight's bill was Dane Ferguson, an affable folk singer from Southern Virginia. I say affable because he got the call two hours before the show asking him to open.

He did a fine job sharing his melodic songs on such short notice. A relative newcomer to the area, he'll be playing Sprout again later in the month.

The Lusitania was from El Paso, Texas and word in the room was that they were alt-country, but they rocked their alt-country hard. Sometimes even in a punk direction.

My favorite part of the band's sound was the keyboards, which kept the band from veering too close to classic rock-like for my taste (a cardinal sin in my book).

The singer's gravely southern voice and two strong guitarists made for an energetic set with songs about parties ("You know, those last few hours when things get weird and druggy") and songs about songs (Galaxie 500, being mentioned for the second time in a week by a performer).

In the crowd were former Texans The Diamond Center supporting their Lone Star State brethren.

Adah played last and you can always count on volume with any of Joon's line-ups.

I saw a musician in the audience go to the bathroom for t.p. to use as earplugs after only two songs.

Mother Nature did the lighting for the show with heat lightening providing a strobe effect in the room throughout the evening.

Usually, Joon plays at least part of the band's set on violin (and ends up writhing on the floor playing it), but tonight he stuck to guitar, asking band mates at one point if he should go get his violin for the next song.

After being told no, he said to the audience, "Okay, here's  a song I don't know how to play on guitar." Not so.

For the finale, he instructed musician Matt Klimas, standing in the crowd, to grab the Telecaster and warned the audience, "If you were thinking of leaving, now is the time to leave."

Naturally no one left.

The band launched into Yo la Tengo's "Tom Courtenay" much to the delight of the music geeks in the room, some of whom could not resist dancing in place.

I just reveled in hearing a song from one of my all-time favorite bands covered by other YLT lovers.

Dark chocolate and reverb on a Monday night, oh, my!