Starsailor, Frank Black, & Glen Phillips Come Together For Gimme
Shelter
Dec 6, 2001, 11:15 am PT
A slew of talented singer-songwriters came together for the Gimme
Shelter Benefit at the Roxy in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Dec. 5).
Charlotte Martin, Starsailor, Glen Phillips, Joe Henry, John Mayer,
John Doe, and surprise guest Frank Black all lent their services to
the annual event, which benefits the H.E.L.P Group, California's
leading non-profit children's organization.
Newcomer Martin caught the attention of those in attendance as soon
as she sat down behind her piano, her striking good looks only
complimented by a capricious four-song set that featured flirtatious
glances and dramatic (sometimes overly so) lyrics ("I'm Normal…Please
Date Me"). Think Britney Spears for the Tori Amos set.
Starsailor's James Walsh -- one of the evening's bigger draws -- then
sat down for a three-song acoustic set, which showcased his soaring
pipes. Walsh highlighted two of his own band's tracks ("Good Souls,"
Alcoholic") before paying homage to fellow compatriot Ryan Adams on
the latter's "16 Days," which segued nicely into Elton John's "Rocket
Man."
Surprise guest Black followed with a nonsensical three-song set that
was much disrespected by the crowd, many of whom could be heard
asking, "Who's Frank Black?" If you could hear a pin drop during
Walsh's set, you couldn't have heard an A-Bomb drop during Black's.
Still, Black -- clearly irritated -- forged on with a cover of Tom
Waits' "Black Rider," the lone gem lodged between two entirely
fatuous songs.
Ex-Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman Phillips found a more welcoming
audience for his five-song set. Phillips has abandoned the country-
fried folk rock that bogged down his early post-Toad shows and seems
back on track with clever, more smile-friendly acoustic ditties.
Toad's "Whatever I Fear" was the stand out here.
Henry kicked off his set with his version of his sister-in-
law's "Don't Tell Me" (that's Madonna for those who don't know)
called "Stop." Henry's set was a welcomed break from the unplugged,
as the singer-songwriter brought his full band and got rowdy by
comparison to those who played before him. His bluesy roots rock was
just what the audience ordered, although it was Mayer who was
apparently the biggest draw of the evening.
Marketing does wonders, and Mayer is a pro. Having already turned a
healthy Internet following into a deal with Columbia Records, Mayer
was the only artist selling merchandise (proceeds to the charity, of
course), and the only artist greeting fans after his set. The crowd
roared with approval at the first notes of each of his Southern-
tilted, Dave Matthews-esque love songs, and nearly all of them split
when he was through.
That left few present to witness former X bassist John Doe, who
brought along a standing bass player and pianist for his headlining
set. The six-song affair was low key and bogged down with new songs
most of those left in attendance didn't even know, and would have
served itself better a little earlier in the evening. At showcases
such as this, following Mayer is simply not a desired position to
find oneself.
-- Kevin Raub
www.cdnow.com/allstar