Review: m Ward @ Cafe Montmarte in Madison, WI

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:37 pm

Such a big fan of m Ward that I am, and broke as hell to boot, I still bought an extra ticket for my friend Jack Chiefton so he could experience m live.

I saw m Ward about four times when I lived in Los Angeles a couple years ago. I was introduced to him when he gladly lent his song "Carolina" to a terrible short film I was sound editing for. When we asked him if he had seen the film yet (6 months) after it was sent to him, he apologized and said "no, I don't have a DVD player." The director said "Oh you gotta get one, everybody's got one." m replied,"yeah, it's just that I feel like I have too many electronics in my house already."

m Ward truly is a throwback. If you haven't heard him yet I can only do my best to describe his music as an eerie, 30's radio broadcast that comes to you from very far away. From a place you can only imagine is much more beautiful and meaningful than the world we live in today. Okay that being said I was stoked.

m hid out in a bar down the street before his was on, drinking Anchor Steams and enjoying the anonymity that the brilliance of his music won't afford him anymore. He came on silently, head bowed for over a minute while the crowd made a joke of shhhshing eachother. He opened with his phenomenal cover of Bowie's "Let's Dance." It pretty much knocked me off my feet. The first time I saw him in L.A., he played the song and me and my wife at the time danced alone in the center of the floor. One of my best memories from my time in L.A. When we were done he had remarked, "If I knew people were going to dance, I would have brought a drummer."

His last couple albums "Transfiguration of Vincent" and "Transister Radio" have shown his composing growth and now most of his songs require a band. He still doesn't have a dedicated band though. Instead he is able to adapt and incorporate what ever band he is opening for, or now, whatever band is opening for him. Whether it be "Bright Eyes" or "My Morning Jacket," he is able to seamlessly perform his songs with new musicians. This is because he is such a talented musician. Enough cannot be said for his guitar playing. The things he does, like playing the piano and guitar parts when there is no piano around, are remarkable.

After a very reflective, acoustic first set, he brought out musicians from the two opening acts and really let loose, tearing it up with "Big Boat" and "Flaming Heart." Unlike the Iron & Wine show I saw the night earlier, when someone shouted out a song, he quickly changed plans and tunings and met the request.

m Ward is still quite unkown but slowly that is changing. He's selling out every venue with limited promotion and lot's of word of mouth. His crackly ageless voice brings to mind Tom Waits and Louis Armstrong but with even more sincerity.

Obviously I recommend seeing him when he comes to your town. Here are his remaining tour dates for the spring.

http://www.mergerecords.com/band.php?to ... &band_id=8

sara · Post by **sara** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:02 am

you are really great at writing reviews.

where the hell is jc and why doesn't he post anymore?

"The first time I saw him in L.A., he played the song and me and my wife at the time danced alone in the center of the floor."

that's a really great reason to see someone live.

(by the way, I'm sorry you and your wife split -- especially if things were that good at one time. That's a shame.)

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 5:20 pm

well yeah, there were some good times but I wouldn't be surprised if we ended that particular night fighting. splitting was the best for the both of us.

sara · Post by **sara** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:23 pm

well then I'm not sorry about the split.

I've also decided I'm going to see Bright Eyes again. Not Iron and Wine (I like them, but when I listen to the cd it just doesn't do it for me)

I've decided I just don't want to see Dylan looking like death, although Willie I would love to see anytime -- I'll probably regret not going.

When I saw Bright Eyes this winter when the President talks to God was great. I thought my favorite was Road to Joy, but it's the president talks to god song that I really remember. I burned a copy of it off of limewire, but it's just not the same. Also I want to know if he's going to do anything from Digital Ash in a Digital Urn. I'm just curious.

Plus the BTI Center, where I saw them (him), wasn't really where I wanted to see them. Ziggy's will be better. It's much smaller.

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:19 pm

I saw m Ward open for Bright Eyes in Los Angeles. My ex and I weren't really digging Bright Eyes and left after three songs. It wasn't until this last week that I decided I ought to give them another try and now I am hooked on them and get what they are doing. He really makes me want to write songs. I think I'm going to see him in Madison on May 5, but that's only if I can figure out the money. Which I have none of now.

sara · Post by **sara** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:07 pm

yes, I know the feeling. Broke.

Bright Eyes. I can't help liking him, which is good. When he spit at the crowd during the president song; I was like this little guy is a rock star in waiting.

I might just go and see Iron and Wine too. I'm thinking about it seriously.

They (he? is it just the one guy?) they are going to be at Bonnaroo, and I want to go to Bonnaroo. My friends went two years ago and had an absolute blast, despite rain and lack of showers. I was going to go last year, and it was already sold out. Now, I am seriously thinking about it. But the show isn't until June, and I hate planning that far in advance

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:23 am

Yeah, I want to go to bonaroo too. But I'm supposed to be in court that day... they, he, who, what? Is Iron & Wine one guy? No, they've got six in the band. Is m Ward one guy? Yeah, but I'm sure he'll find some people to play behind him.

sara · Post by **sara** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:43 am

oh. sorry, Iron and Wine -- the one guy question. I had no idea there were six people.

sara · Post by **sara** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:14 pm

this is why I thought it was just the one guy. I was pretty sure someone had said something like this to me before:

http://www.subpop.com/bands/ironandwine/bio.html

Iron and Wine, the recorded Word of one Samuel Beam, Miami, Florida; is one of those one-guy-and-his-tapedeck affairs. Taken as a whole, The Creek Drank the Cradle, Iron and Wine's debut CD, is an ode to an older South; a part of America that is defined by "traditional values," pastoral imagery and arcane manners. Or maybe that's just what I want to hear. You'll soon be the judge.

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 2:30 am

as far as I can tell from his website it's him, the girl and the banjo player. The other three may have been add-ons, however they weren't the guys from ugly casanova, i've seen them too and they are fronted by the lead singer from modest mouse.

sara · Post by **sara** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 10:53 am

yeah, evidentally it evolved into that.

I think the back of my most recent cd says that all songs were done by him and produced by his sister, the girl, Sarah Beam.

So it's interesting the way these indie folks all work together.

sara · Post by **sara** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:14 pm

oh, wait. I was wrong. The sister is not the producer

but this is cool or just mindless trivia. The producer is Brian Deck, who produced Ugly Cassanova and Modest (I typed Most) Mouse. And he's from Chicago. Trivial things are fun things.

The back up singer is the sister sarah, so how many seashells can she sell at the sea shore?

None probably, but she sure can sing.

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:11 pm

and she plays a mean violin, and is pretty cute...