The Slade-Ely House on Trumbull St. in New Haven is an old home converted to a gallery and impromptu performance space. Maybe 30 people in attendance for this folding chair show. First up is local guitarist Alexander. Confident picking on his six string acoustic sometimes veered into new age territory. Next was 12-string acoustic maestro Rob Noyes. The 12-string in Noyes words is a "beast", but his technique of thumb pick and strum was amazing. I heard Noyes hyped on the WFMU show Shrunken Planet, and he did not disappoint. Speedy, effortless tunes fell out of this beast.
Local freak folk legend Kath Bloom was the headliner. Bloom was joined onstage with another guitarist and a young woman on percussion and backing vocals which gave off a coffeehouse, talent show vibe. Bloom's childlike, homeless woman vocal delivery reminded me of Daniel Johnston. At one point, when the sound was being worked on (by Bloom's partner, Loren Connors), Bloom retreated to her backpack where she produced a pint of Jack Daniels to swig. One tune was written in the Grove St. Cemetery, another commented on her child's battle with schizophrenia.
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