When you work with bands like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Depeche Mode, you get a little recognition. KCRW knew this and booked Barry Adamson at the Hotel Cafe. Touring on his new album I Will Set You Free, this British rocker stood alone on the tiny stage belting out tunes in one of the smoothest voices I’ve heard in awhile. The set was too short—hopefully, he’ll be back.

—Debi Del Grande

[View with PicLens]

Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion “Never Too Far From My Heart”
(from Bright Examples out now)

Having a famous last name in the music biz can be a blessing or a curse. More often than not, the forbearer often outclasses the younger by a large margin, which can often put a stench on the family name: think Mick and Chris Jagger, or Jose and Ozzie Canseco. However, the one family that manages to sidestep this stereotype is the Guthrie clan.

Her grandfather is the legendary American folksinger Woody and her pops, Arlo, is the purveyor of “Alice’s Restaurant,” so needless to say, Sarah Lee Guthrie had to step up her game. Fortunately for all, she makes life easy and brings her A-plus game on her latest album, Bright Examples.  Collaborating once again with husband, Johnny Irion, the album has moments where you feel like you are listening to the harmonies of Johnny Cash and June Carter. Guthrie and Irion have a natural chemistry that goes beyond the typical husband-wife duo and it makes for an excellent listen.

On this album, Guthrie and Irion have added electric instruments to their sound that weren’t prevalent on their first record. Perhaps this is due to the inclusion of new producers (Vetiver’s Andy Cabic and Thom Monahan), but it indisputably works. Tracks like “Hurry Up” and the harmony-rich “Seven Sisters” show how much the duo has evolved from their first effort. Great husband-wife tandems are hard to find these, especially ones with famous last names, but one Bright Examples, Guthrie and Irion do their best to use the past to create a promising bridge to the future.

—Daniel Kohn

Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion Record Release show
Hotel Cafe
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
Showtime: 7:00pm
Tickets: $20
Ticket Info: http://www.hotelcafe.com

Relationship inspired songs like “The Leaving Song” and “Another Breakup Ballad” were the first few numbers that I walked into. The former giving a first-person account of a new relationship, that when mixed with distance is possibly causing paranoia to bubble to the surface. As she’s singing the words it’s almost as if she is in the moment and about ready to make a regrettable decision. The song comes off as a justification for possibly slipping up. The latter could be the result of that choice? While intro’ing the song she did explain it as a possible “self-fulfilling prophecy,” but a curious set placement at the very least. It is, however, a very catchy song that makes light of a messier situation. Therapeutic is definitely the word of the day, because with Rose you have a songwriter who is, for the most part, very introspective.

Haroula explained that her parents were in attendance, having flown in from Chicago for the special event. How daunting is that? I’m not claiming to have the world’s most immaculate memory but I believe she said that they had never seen her perform before—what a treat it must have been for all sides!

“Brand New Start,” which was described as the result of coming back to a very isolating part of Los Angeles after living in Madrid for a few years, is a pretty intimate song with a very personal and relatable message. It’s most definitely one of my favorites from the record. Before “Free To Be Me,” Rose requests that each of us introduce ourselves to one other person in attendance. This is a good example of how I perceived her from where I was standing—kind, reserved, but very charming and very human.

When doing “Duluth,” a Mason Jennings cover that appears on the LP, Haroula realistically makes the song her own. Her voice already has a sweet, naïve quality to it—and then when mixed with the lyrical content that is present, it really creates a nice dynamic. Ending the show was “Someday,” sung without her backing band, which can be found on her EP that was released in 2009 of the same name. The acoustics of the room really allowed for a cool moment, as she stood up there alone with her guitar and sang about optimism—something that we could all use a little bit more of.

Haroula Rose has a very pensive voice, subtle to the ear but yet very pleasing. Her demeanor onstage is one of someone who does not take herself overly serious, allowing for friends to make little jokes at her expense and still taking it all in stride. From a personable standpoint, that makes a very positive impression. Her music is strongly written, with solid song structure amidst the elements of folk and at times, bluegrass. There is a real rustic tranquility present that is sure to bring in many more admirers of her music. I’m curious to see how she comes into her own going forward, but there is no doubt that Haroula Rose is a strong addition to this city’s musical landscape.

—Josh Liddy (words+photo)

live on A Prairie Home Companion

Tom Brosseau is like an angel…alien from North Dakota…definitely something celestial, a force of good, nice things. Listen to him play on A Prairie Home Companion then pop over to Hotel Cafe tonight where he’ll be performing with WPA, that’s Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek, The Watkins Family) and Glen Phillips. And stare at the word “prairie” for a while. How weird is that word?

—Daiana Feuer

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIbbkYUv0g8

This soft singing lady is Haroula Rose. She’s playing a residency at Hotel Cafe. The remaining dates include a little grab bag of sounds from chill to crazy:

February 1 with Sean Rowe, Sara Lov, Patrick Park, Mariana Bell
February 8 with The Sweet Hurt, Ethan Gold, Pedestrian
February 15 with Kim Churchill, Mountain Man, Whispering Pines, Jeffertiti’s Nile