Went out into the snow storm Sunday night to see Ms. Terry Radigan perform at Rockwood Music Hall. (The link is to a review of Terry's CD because she doesn't have a web presence of her own just yet. "But soon," she promised last night).
Now, Terry Radigan is an accomplished singer, and a superlative guitar player. That's reason enough to love her. But I think the reason I enjoy going out to listen to her when she performs is that she has succeeded in crafting a sound for herself that is unique, and perhaps trend-setting. Maybe if we're lucky.
Terry performs with an old Gibson electric hollow body, and a small Vox amplifier. It provides rich warm tone, and the ever-present hum of feedback throughout the performance. It's very consciously present. I'm not sure quite why, but it lends an irresistible authenticity and immediacy to her performance. Maybe it's because it creates the impression that the music is bigger than it is. Maybe it's because it gives it a sense of space and dimension. Maybe it's because it's so refreshingly different from the flat, scrubbed-clean sounds so seemingly popular in today's music. But whatever the reason, the result is captivating and invitingly absorbing.
I also don't know of many songwriters currently out gigging with an accordion player. The combination of electric guitar and accordion is ear-catching and unusual, especially with one as gifted as Josh Camp. If you get a chance to go out and see her, take it.
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