Chris Denny and The Natives have been performing around the midwest as part of the Daytrotter Barnstormer II series (the last show is tonight in Johnston, Iowa). Gus T. Wilson was in attendance for the 10/8/09 Milwaukee show and was kind enough to share some pics and videos of that performance.
It looks like some of the old tunes off Age Old Hunger and then some new tracks off Denny's anticipated upcoming release.
Early word from his new label, Partisan Records, sounds pretty good (would we expect anything less?):
He has just finished recording at Black Dirt Studios in upstate New York. The initial tracks we have heard are astounding and his record is going to blow you away!
We'll be looking forward to that one. For those of you out East be sure to go catch all the Partisan Records artists on their Green Manalishi 2009 tour. See dates on the poster above.
Read all about it and watch some of the footage from the night below. A certain couple even got engaged onstage...
Special guests were the theme for Deer Tick's set as they brought Arkansas swooner, Chris Denny up to perform "Dead Flowers" w/ Deer Tick frontman John McCauley.
Deer Tick w/ Chris Denny - "Dead Flowers" Pt. 1
Deer Tick w/ Chris Denny - "Dead Flowers" Pt. 2
Sticking with the guest theme, McCauley next introduced and brought out Nikki Darlin of Those Darlins. They performed a little ditty called "Cake & Eggs" that was set to the tune of a John Prine song.
John McCauley and Nikki Darlin - "Cake & Eggs"
After the song McCauley informed the crowd and Nikki that he was "Gonna Do Something Crazy." As he reached into his pocket I had a sense of what was coming. He announced he had a toe ring and proceeded to remove Ms. Darlins boot and sock and asked her to marry him. Pretty cool.
How do you follow up an onstage proposal? Deer Tick finished the rest of a playful set with a few more tunes and then closed with their version of "La Bamba". Ritchie Valens never gets old.
Deer Tick - "La Bamba"
After Deer Tick there was a little intermission during which the aforementioned appearance by Chuck Schumer took place. He was sure called for a round of applause for Sonia Sotomayor and reminded us how much he loves Brooklyn. Pretty friendly crowd, but still cool to see him up there.
Finally it was time for our very own former HGH Rocker Hottie of the Week, Grace Potter, to take the stage. This gal from Vermont's got a pretty impressive voice. The videos don't really do it justice, but you get the idea.
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - "Ah Mary"
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - "She's Got The Medicine"
Fun show. Good times. They closed things out with an abbreviated cover of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" and it was off to Farrell's for a 32oz beer.
After Riley and Co. went to see Chris Denny and Graham Wilkinson at Duke's in Chicago last week and came back with such rave reviews (and also promised Chris himself that I'd attend in NY) I wanted to make sure I made it to the performance at The Living Room last night. I made it to The Living Room around 9 and as I settled into a spot at a front bar and said excuse me to the dreadlocked gentleman at the table near my stool I realized I was sitting next to our night's performers. I said hello to Graham Wilkinson and Chris Denny and explained that I had heard good things about the Duke's show in CHI and was looking forward to their set tonight. The gents were both gracious in remembering Riley and Big D from that show and we laughed about their performance of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" with Duke's owner Neil. The guys explained they had been traveling pretty heavily and had just made the trip down from an upstate show the night before. One could tell that life on the road certainly had its ups and downs as these guys needed a few beers to catch their stride for the night. I left them alone and after a few more beverages made my way to the rear of the Living Room to get a spot for the performance. Guest photographer, TA, and I waited patiently for Graham and Chris' set as 11PM became more like 11:30, but when they came on it was immediately evident that this would be worth the wait. Graham Wilkinson started things off with a few high energy tunes and set the table for Chris to take the stage. He played a short set of about five tunes; sprinkling in some new tunes, including one I think Riley caught in CHI. There were a couple tunes off Chris' 07 release Age Old Hunger, including "Heart's on Fire." While Chris' set was brief, he played two songs solo and the rest with the band, I remained amazed at his voice and vocal range. He sounds a lot like Roy Orbison to me and when looking at him I kept being impressed that this booming sound could be generated by a rather diminutive figure. It was well worth the wait to see him and he remained gracious throughout the night as I told him how much my Dad enjoyed his music. Go pick up Chris' CD Age Old Hunger. You can listen to a number of his tracks on his myspace page and find his tour dates as well. Be sure to check him out when he comes to your town. Upcoming Tour Dates Apr 10 2009 THE LANTERN - BLACKSBURG, VA. Apr 11 2009 BOONE SALOON - BOONE, NC Apr 12 2009 POUR HOUSE MUSIC HALL - RALEIGH, NC Apr 13 2009 THE FISHTANK - LEXINGTON, KY Apr 14 2009 THE RED LINE TAP - CHICAGO, IL Apr 15 2009 NORTHSIDE TAVERN - CINCINATTI, OH Apr 16 2009 WHITEWATER TAVERN - LITTLE ROCK, AR Apr 17 2009 THE GREEN ELEPHANT - DALLAS, TX *Special thanks to TA for the pics.
If you haven't heard Christopher Denny's voice you're in for a treat. You couldn't ask for a better setting than Duke's Hideaway to experience it live (LIVE MUSIC & COLD BEER). It'd be like having the kid over in your living room. Everyone in the band, Chris Denny, Graham Wilkinson, PJ from Cincinnati, traded off taking the mic and guitars. The show was more like a group of friends drinkin', jammin' and having a good time at a bar compared to the structure of most concerts. It was fly by the seat of your pants between songs, but once they were playin' it was no joke. Chris played his fan favorite 'Time' along with some of his other tracks like 'Westbound Train' off his album 'Age Old Hunger.' Chris even came out and did a great version of 'Dead Flowers'...which might have even replaced Townes Van Zandt's version as my favorite. The whole crew was a great bunch.
I had the chance to talk to Chris briefly over a beer and he told tales of 'workin the corners' with his guitar in Chicago for months down by Wellington and Sheridan, near a Walgreens. Then how while on the road going through Amarillo (not by morning) they hit a snow storm, slid on some ice, jack knifed the trailer, and crashed the van...he said, 'man we almost died'. Well we sure are glad they didn't. The kid loved his whiskey and smoked more cigarettes than any man should in a week. Give Chris Denny a listen, keep the kid off the corner and at least in the bar - buy his album.
Here's Chris Denny and Graham Wilkinson gettin after one of Chris' new songs...
And again soon after here they are giving a new sound to a classic, oh and that guy on the far right rockin' the slide guitar is Neil, the owner of the bar. He stepped in and the kid could play.
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You can listen to a number of his tracks on 
