This review was originally published on April 8, 2009. Robyn Hitchcock will be playing at Eddie’s Attic on October 31, 2014 and November 1, 2014.
From the familiar beginning arpeggiated chords of show opener “I Often Dream of Trains” to the slightly shambolic ending of final encore “Listening to the Higsons” with its familiar sing-along “wo-wo” refrain (and guest star Mike Mills joining in on guitar), Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 delivered their usual spirited, musically rewarding performance. Hitchcock’s invigorating collaboration with The Venus 3 has happily occurred more often in recent years and the band’s tightness shone brightly.
Featuring the timeless jangle, mostly of the electric 12-string variety, of Peter Buck, the solid bass playing and far-ranging vocal harmonies of Scott McCaughey, and the solid, deceptively complex drumming of Bill Rieflin, Hitchcock has found a solid foundation to support his unique lead guitar work, often as eccentric as the lyrics he is perhaps best known for, as well as his distinctive songs.
Though the size of the crowd was somewhat disappointing (The Variety was less than half-full), the enthusiasm of both longtime fans and the newly curious (I ran across at least half a dozen people who said this was their first Hitchcock show) more than made up for it. The band played older classics such as “Madonna of the Wasps” and “Flesh #1 (Beatle Dennis)” with equal gusto to the newer material from their just-released Goodnight Oslo CD, and the seamless quality of the set underscored the timelessness of Robyn Hitchcock, a singer-songwriter with few peers whose career has spanned four decades.
Don’t miss Robyn Hitchcock at Eddie’s Attic on October 31, 2014 and November 1, 2014.
