Camera Obscura; Laura Cantrell @ The Bell House

Camera Obscura; Laura Cantrell
@ The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY - March 24, 2009

Traceyanne and the fam finally returned to the Big Apple after 18 long months to show off the new tunes on their sparkling new record, My Maudlin Career (not out yet so stop singing along you thieves!). Retaining the symphonic scope of Let's Get Out of This Country but also returning to the simple, melancholic meditations of the band's earlier work, the new LP is instantly good but not as easily digestible. Live-wise, the new material is easily adaptable to the band's not-so-secret trick: that they are a compelling live, meat-and-potatoes (or is that haggis-and-potatoes har har har shut up) act. Whereas the records are chock full of lush, lavish escapades, the live Camera Obscura is about the instruments, the strumming, the ebb and flow, the inner workings, of what makes a strong pop song. And though the band and the music are by nature tame, gentle, wistful, they are in essence a rock n' roll band.

Camera Obscura live at the Bell House

Laura Cantrell is a lovely lady who plays lovely country music straight out of her Nashville roots. Unfortunately, despite Camera Obscura's own crooning, moseying vibe, Laura felt a little out of place as an opener. Too many songs, too many slow ones. At another time and place, maybe with a seat, this would have been just fine. That doesn't take anything away from her though - she is a talent and then some.