It's Called Whisper Rock - Pass It On

Joshua Radin implored everyone at his Fillmore at Irving Plaza show last night to spread the word that his genre of music is whisper rock - just make those devil horns with your hand and hold your finger up to your lips (shh!) He also claims that he is heavily influenced by Bob Dylan singing one song based on a quote from Dylan and closing the show by running into the middle of the audience to sing Don't Think Twice. I think his music is very beautiful and gentle (whisper rock is certainly an apt description) but truthfully if his music sounds heavily influenced by anyone it would have to be James Taylor. There was one song in particular from his new album where not only did the song have a James Taylor-like melody and flow, his voice even became extra nasal so it sounded very close to Taylor's. This is not a bad thing - I think it suits him very well and it is a very nice, modern update on that style. I just can't picture Dylan listening to it though. I will certainly be listening however when his new album "drops" on August 26th (as he mentioned oh once or twice).

I also enjoyed Vanessa Carlton who played a set before Radin. I'm not a fan of all of her songs (what was that about a unicorn and a vampire again?) but many of them are quite catchy including her well-known songs like A Thousand Miles. She opened with my particular favorite White Houses and I also really enjoyed Nolita Fantasy (although for the record my sister disliked that particular number). Her piano music backed by violin and acoustic guitar, hardly any drums, was certainly something different for the venue and I found it enjoyably low-key.

I note for the official record that I have discovered I am probably 8-10 years too old to go to the Fillmore at Irving Plaza (when was it last just Irving Plaza? I think that's the last time I've been there). There was something slightly disturbing about all the young faces grooving to Don't Think Twice as if they had never heard it before. I certainly had a good time at the concert but I may think twice before I head to that venue again.