“Most days of the week, this is a song of anticipation, but today, it is a song of regret.” This is Hiss Golden Messenger’s intro to Saturday’s Song. Perhaps he means that his Saturday didn’t quite live up to his expectations. The song did seem a bit lower key than when he performed it on a Saturday at the Hogs for the Cause festival last year in New Orleans (See the review here).
“This one is about coming home”, the lead singer, M.C. Taylor, says right before playing Mahogany Dread. This tune features a solid baseline and beat that everyone can’t help but tap their feet along to. On “Lucia”, he sings “She was beautiful” over and over. He could be singing about the song itself, as it is a beautiful track.
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a perfect venue for this blend of southern rock and folk. It’s a very intimate space with assigned seating. “I’m enjoying how quiet we all are together” says Taylor. Even between songs, the audience is completely silent so as not to miss anything the bands says or does.
Tift Merritt opened the show and she also joined the band for most of their set. She has a great voice and is also a talented guitar and keyboard player. It was definitely a bonus to have her join the band and make this a great night of music in a fantastic space.
HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER SETLIST
CHICAGO, IL – 11/6/16
AS THE CROW FLIES
BILOXI
SATURDAY’S SONG
MAHOGANY DREAD
DAY O DAY
HEART LIKE A LEVEE
TELL HER I’M JUST DANCING
HAPPY DAY
LIKE A MIRROR LOVES A HAMMER
(SOLO SECTION)
BALZATHAR’S SONG
CALL HIM DAYLIGHT
NEWBORN CHILD
RED ROSE NANTAHALA
O LITTLE LIGHT
SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT
FLAGS AND BANNERS
(PHIL INCIDENTAL MUSIC / MIKE TUNING)
CRACKED WINDSHIELD
LUCIA
SOUTHERN GRAMMAR
——
JOHN THE GUN
BROTHER
Quinn Delaney
PlaylistHQ 