By Chelsea Schmid
Staff Writer who is Special to LIVE!
March 14, 2008
Last Saturday was good but it had nothing on Tuesday night in San Angelo when vocalist and guitar player Aaron Beavers and bassist Keith Hanna of L.A.’s Shurman stopped by The Crazy Goat. The band had traveled through Portales, NM, on their way down to Austin to play South by Southwest, and “couldn’t help but stop by and play a few songs,” Aaron told The Goat’s full house as he tuned his guitar.
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I had heard from a friend, Jeff McGuire, that this was a show not to miss, but nothing could have prepared me for the time that was to be had. Set off in the corner to the left of the door like a boot-shine service, two tall bar-chairs and multiple instruments stood awaiting their players. A small-town Texas aura was thick in the air and Beavers remarked how nice it was to be back in his home state, away from the hustle and bustle of the Hollywood streets he now roams.
The show kicked off with “Three Chords,” and after only two songs more, those gathered in the front of the bar had engaged in something with the band: they had become a part of the music. Seated across from my table at the bar near the entrance, a gentleman discreetly played his harmonica. The sound was only vaguely audible over the speakers, but the magic of it had more to do with the vibe it conveyed. The music was inviting and the listeners became increasingly involved.
On the next song, another patron, this time seated at the table behind me, pulled out a saxophone and joined the duo, filling in where he could. The accompaniment was completely unplanned, but the band encouraged him, gave him cues when to add a little here and there.
A feeling of unity pervaded the room and I looked around and met eyes with Jeff, whose head was nodding like mine along to the beat, and exchanged the tell-tale expression: “Oh yes, I get it.”
The band played one or two more before beginning a tune with the preface “this one’s real easy to sing along with.” Halfway through the song, Aaron took a break from singing to do a little storytelling. Having just returned from a European tour, where the beer flows thick, dark, and strong, the vocalist explained that the song blamed an over-generous bartender for ensuing debauchery.
New fans and friends in the front of the bar began to sing along: “I blame the bartender, for these things I’ve done, ‘cause I was over-served, I thought I was having fun . . . ” Bubbles began to fly around from a wand someone was holding up to the fan, and the first set ended.
GREAT JOB OF ENTERTAINMENT!!! WHO KNOWS MICK JAGGER MIGHT JUST DROP IN.!
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