Wendy Colonna
Anderson Fair
2007 Grant
Houston TX
March 28, 2009 9pm
Wendy Colonna w/Chad Pope
I have seen Wendy Colonna perform on two other occasions. The two venues/performances could not have been any more different. The 1st time, I saw her perform acoustically in a small listening room (Almost Austin). The second time was at a nightclub (Chances), where she was accompanied by a band. Both performances were magical, although in different ways. When its just Wendy & her guitar, you appreciate the introspective, profound nuance of her singing/songwriting. And with a band, she can really jam out "with her clam out". Anderson Fair turned out to be a perfect format for this amazingly gifted artist.
First, let me tell you a little bit about Anderson Fair. The name itself is a bit deceiving - "Anderson Fair Retail Restaurant". Most decidedly because this place is not RETAIL and its definitely not a restaurant. (And its not a FAIR either). Anderson Fair does serve beer & wine, but be advised that all beverages, as well as tickets bought at the door are a CASH ONLY transaction. If you arrive with your ATM card hoping to enjoy some delicious beverages, you will spend the entire evening dry mouthed and yearning. The building itself is very old. The stage is quite large & can be seen easily from all seats. The room holds tables and chairs for approximately 50 people. This is a perfect set-up for really LISTENING to music. You are so up close & personal with the artist that its impossible not to be carried away by the performance. I recommend Anderson Fair as a perfect listening room. However, when I mentioned that the building was very old, please take into account that this includes the restrooms. If you periodically use the facilities at service stations and/or convenience stores, then you won't be icked out by the rusty crusty-ness of the bathrooms. Please be advised that this is not the Mariott. Enter at your own risk (especially since the toilets are perched upon a platform...as if you're on a throne). (The restrooms aren't as bad as service stations, but do conjure an atmosphere of grunge).
Wendy opened the show with a very throaty rendition of "We". She is a very beautiful woman which makes it very easy to "fall in love" with her as she leads you on journeys of self-exploration (that kinda sounds like a porn movie synopsis). On a personal note (not even remotely connected to her singing ability) I think that Wendy has the most perfect teeth on the face of the earth). When she smiles, its as if all the negativity just melts away and you just feel GOOD. Her smile lights up an entire room and warms the hearts of everyone lucky enough to be in her vicinity. This song makes you nod your head, tap your foot and reach for more all at the same time. The first verse grabs you with intensity:
"We procrastinate our bodies
We procrastinate our souls
We close our eyes and meditate
And wait for time to fill the holes"
Now come on people...how can you not FEEL that? And if the words themselves don't grab you, then Wendy reaches in with her sultry voice & grabs your attention. Her performance is a ONE TWO punch on the psyche. She followed next with "May Day" a song of summer love gone wrong. Her 3rd song, "Bound To Fall" is 100% total BLUES. You feel her emotion in every note of the music. Wendy
Colonna has no contemporary equal when it comes to singing the blues. Her Louisiana
heritage sprouts out of her with a flourish that will take your breath away. She can
throw down t
he blues with the best of them. This tune is reminiscent of blues queen Etta James. You go, girl. Also, Chad Pope puts some hurt on these blues with his exquisite guitar playing. But let me say that it doesn't seem like he's just playing...it seems like he picks up the guitar and his soul flows out through the strings. This guy's playing is absolutely amazing. And his harmonies with Wendy are spot on. Wendy is fantastic alone with her guitar. She's also fabulous with a band. But in my opinion, she is at her absolute best when she performs with Chad. They play off each other perfectly, bringing out the finest in each other's performance. Her 4
th song was a new one, "Do Not Burn". 5
th in the set was a cover of Ike & Tina Turner's "Poor Little Fool". Again, Chad is all over the guitar licks & Wendy has the voice to blues this up perfectly. Next up was my absolute favorite song: "Texas Summer Love". Wendy confessed that Chad was her inspiration for this song, so that just makes me like it that much more. Song #8 was "Thunder". Anyone who has ever been in love can relate to the lyrics:
"You're so beautiful
When your heart is full
And you shine, shine, shine
Like the sun divine
I'm so glad that you're mine"
At this point in the evening, the crowd was quite enthusiastic. Wendy asked what everyone wanted to hear. The resounding answer was "Coffee Today". So, guess what...that's exactly what she sang next. (Wendy is kind of nice like that). "Coffee" is an extremely likeable song about....coffee. Well, actually its about missing someone for coffee. Wendy advised that this was a sad song. I can agree with that statement. The essence of the song itself is sad (loneliness) but the feeling it leaves with the listener is anything but sad. Wendy's performance of the song makes me feel very hopeful. There is an innate "goodness" about all of her music. The intensity of her enlightened being is projected into the music and what could be sad is actually hopeful and healing. (Ok...please, don't stop reading because I sound like a pompous blowhard...its really really difficult to describe how moving her music is if you just sit back and let it take you). This song could easily be on the pop charts. Its catchy and quite singable, everything needed to be a pop hit. Next up was "Hurricane". This is a crowd favorite for anyone living on the Gulf Coast.
The 11th song was the Peter Pan inspired "Your Parade". Wendy really hits the nail on the head with this song. All of us who have been in love with someone who wasn't exactly as much in love with us can relate to these words:
"Silly boy
Its your parade I know, I know
That it was never about me
Its your parade I know, I know
Guess that it was all inside my head"
When she sing's the line "What kind of hero are you, anyway?" I want to cry. This song encapsulates all the hurt and disillusionment of WRONG-MANCE. Her next song was also one of my favorites. This song is not on any of her CDs, but I really hope that it shows up on one soon. "Mother, Please Forgive Us" is an insightful song about nurturing each other. When this song makes it onto an album, I'm gonna wear a groove into my cd on that song, because I will play it over and over like a 45rpm.
Chad Pope entertained us with his Fort Worth Stylings on "Low Down Dog". Again, let me just restate that this guy is an exceptional artist. He plays like an angel and sings to match. And he is very cute. (That never hurts). Wendy accompanied him on harmony and Nose Harmonica. These guys play great together. Song #14 was the title track of her cd "Right Were I Belong". This is a definite rock song with a Bonnie Raitt feel to it. Then came a cover by Townes Van Zandt "Snowin' On Raton".And then another cover, "Noah" by Austin's Neal Kasanoff. Then, we were truly blessed by a song from Chad Pope. This song doesn't have a name yet, but my vote is for "Wait Forever". This is a classic love song. Chad can churn out the blues, rock and obviously he has mastered the ballad also. There is a very gentle side to this quasi-cowboy renegade. (He also played tonight with his custom made guitar pick that he fashioned from a coconut shell. It is rumored to possess much mojo & juju).
The last song of the night was the Wendy Colonna anthem: "Nothin Gonna Take My Love". If I had to choose only one song to express Wendy (I would really be hard-pressed to do that because she is so damn versatile), I would have to choose this song. On this song she testifies to her commitment to enlightenment:
"May my eyes be bright
And may my heart be light
May my hands be filled with grace
When the shadows fall
Let me light them all
Let me smile in Trouble's face"
This is an anthem that we could all benefit from remembering in our everyday lives. Wendy Colonna music is about enlightenment, introspection and celebration. With any concert, you pay your $ and expect to be entertained. Wendy Colonna takes you one step past entertainment. Its as if you are a sponge soaking up the radiance from her light. Honestly, its like she's the Energizer Bunny and anyone can get their batteries recharged just by spending some time with her and her music. What more can I say? I've written a fricking thesis here and have only skimmed the surface of all that I want to say about this incredibly talented performer. I have heard the fabled "Siren Song" and it has the voice of Wendy Colonna.
(I issue this official apology to all parties involved for any mistakes I may have made with
titles, lyrics, etc. I am an amatuer. Grade me on the curve...)
Wendy Colonna (& Chad Pope) gets an
EYEBALL UP from JudgedByJody!
I ordered the cheesy eggs with the scattered, battered, nothing-mattered hash browns. Let me tell you this...my breakfast was DELISH. The cheesy eggs were fantastic cheesiness and the hash browns had everything thrown in there but the kitchen sink. (I'm gonna try them with the kitchen sink NEXT TIME).
