February 9, 1998

Over The Edge Page 7

An Alternative to Alternative

By Nicole Larson

So where is this concert
anyway? Was the first thing
question that | had Friday
night.as | was getting ready to
go the Chuck Brodsky and
Doug Cox concert. It turned
out to be at Bud and Betty
Burbee’s brown house on the
banks of the Fraser. River. It
was a house concert and the
first | had ever attended.

A house concert, | was soon
to learn, was a concert put on
in someone’s living room;
about forty people sit on
cushions and the floor and
listen to who ever is perform-
ing. This gives the event an
informal partyesque feel,
which was a nice change
from concerts at larger more
structured venues. |. Where
else could you see the head-
liners chatting amongst them-
selves about the cost of ship-
ping cassettes and CDs (if it

at all interests you it costs .

more to ship cassettes)? It
was also the only time | have
been asked to bring my own
drinks to a concert. It felt like
the aftermath of a dinner
party, everyone was relaxed
and felt right at home, even
though few people had met
the Burbees before that
evening.

The Burbee’s home was the

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perfect spot for a house con-
cert. They had a large living
room separated from their
kitchen and dining room by a
banister, which meant lots of

room for the audience. Their

home was the loveliest venue
which | have ever been to,
and the open spaces, big bay
windows which overlooked
the Fraser River and roaring
fire in the large stone fire-
place supplied the correct
ambience for the  perfor-
mance. Sitting on the floor
directly at the feet of the per-
formers seemed like the most
regular thing in the world in
their living room.

The performance itself was
incredible. Perhaps it was

the fact that every song had a

story, maybe it was the mel-
low sound which Chuck and
Doug produced, it even could
have been the closeness of
the performers to their audi-
ence, but this was one of the
best concerts | have ever
been to. Chuck was not only
a inspired songwriter and
performer but also an adept
story teller. He filled the

spaces between songs with
amusing anecdotes and the
history behind the songs he
had written and was about to
His unassuming

perform.

PER
MONTH

it was a dark and stormy night. . .

Doug Cox looks on as Chuck Brodski tunes up his guitar.

(Photo by Michelle Berard)

manner put the entire audi-
ence at ease from the begin-
ning of the concert and creat-
ed an atmosphere of warmth
and humour.

Doug Cox played the perfect
George Bums to Chuck’s
Gracie Allen, sitting quietly
and supplying incredible har-
monies on his Dobro. As a
side note, Doug will be repre-
senting Canada at the

International Dobro festival in
Europe this summer because
of his skill, which was evident
throughout the entire perfor-
mance. Quite a few of the
pieces that Chuck played
were unfamiliar to Doug
because they have not per-
formed together for long, but
his improvisation was incredi-
bie further showcased his
skill.

This was a concert experi-
ence that | will not soon for-
get. | would like to see more
house concerts because of
the fun and easy atmos-
phere. Calico Concerts is
putting on another house
concert on April 24th , with
different perfon-ners and a
different home, but it should
be as fun and comfortable.

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