I was one of the few lucky Pittsburghers who was in attendance at the Jill BARBER concert last evening at the Club Café in Pgh."s Southside. I had never seen/met Jill live & in person before then, knowing her only through her recordings, which I stumbled on sometime during the past 2 yrs. while browsing iTunes. I must say, "I was not disappointed!!!" Her personality comes shining through in each of her songs. She has an easy way with her audience, interacting with them from the outset, making fun of herself and her band members, one of whom, she pointed out, has his PhD in physical chemistry! ( She questioned the wiseness of his choice of making a career change to Professional Musician 10 yrs.ago to join her band 10 yrs. ago).
During the entire performance, when not Watching Jill sing, my eyes were on the 5 band members who put on a little show of their own behind Jill's back. Some of their facial expressions were priceless; the bass player in particular caught my eye-- he reminded me of the drummer (female) who was in Brandi Carlile's band 2-3 yrs. ago-- looked like Rooty. Kazootie!!!!! (Perhaps one has to have grown up in the Phila. Area during the '50s in the early days of television to know who he was!!!)
But I digress. Suffice it to say that I was initially taken by her voice. Seeing/meeting her in person last evening proved to me what I have always known; when it comes to singer/songwriters, I know how to pIck 'em! Please know, dear Jill, that you will always have a devoted fan in Pittsburgh, PA who worships you from afar!!!!! Bob Walley