SHAKEY GRAVES INSIDER FUN

via Pickathon. Photo Credit: Michael Orlosky

The last time I saw a touring musician’s guitar go wrong it was The Police and Sting broke a base string and replaced it without missing a beat in the song they played.

Afterward he joked that a real band would have stopped and corrected the problem before restarting.

In the history of guitar malfunctions on stage, Shakey Graves had more during his Roseland show than any act I’ve seen since 1974. I started when The Eagles played the old Paramount on Broadway touring behind Desperado, to Tuesday night, and Shakey holds the record.

Not once did he snap, or curse, or throw something to show his rock and roll spirit. Instead, he let the crowd into his world of calm where things would work out just fine.

From his riveting solo opening, to defective axes with the band, to his solo close, Shakey Graves invited Portland to share his cool. And he was cool.

Like a cult leader he played to the sold out crowd without being a sellout. No diva, this man called Shakey, just someone who knows what he knows and laying it out there.

Guitar fails? He’s got a guitar player and base picking up the slack and a drummer who carried the show. Shakey Graves is a drum band with that guy, someone who knows how much to put in and how much to leave out. Like a master baker he sweetened the room.

Listening to Graves sing and talk to the crowd put me into a history spin. Is he more like Bruce Springsteen or Dylan? Does he groove his sound like the Dead? He’s definitely a throwback guy.

By the end of the night he was a single, solitary, voice in the dark asking people to be a little better. Very peaceful, not a rip it up, tear it down, finale to send fans out in a frenzy. More like a heartfelt thank you for coming out on a Tuesday.

Back at ya, Shakey. I saw you on a Sasquatch stage and wondered if I’d have the chance again. I got my answer. Keep rolling.