Re-Viewed: Kathleen Edwards and Mary Gauthier at the Double Door

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on May 23, 2005 4:35PM

This evening brought together two ladies with lyrical and soothing voices that have found their callings in the folk/country genre. First up was Mary Gauthier touring for the CD Mercy Now. Gauthe presented herself on the stage by standing in the spotlight alone. Hidden at the side of the darkened stage was a lone guitarist accompanying her. It was the perfect set-up for her songs of loss, love, change, and even death. These motifs are showcased in the hipshaking stories of "I Drink" and "Wheel Inside the Wheel". The set-ups to her songs take on the same importance as the songs themselves forcing you to go along for the ride in order to know the full story.

Overall, Mary was exactly as promised in the press for the cd. Her half-spoken half-sung delivery reminds us that she's lived a full life before ever becoming a singer songwriter. She knows who she is and she doesn't give a damn. It's that simple.

In stark contrast to the simplicity of Mary Gauthier on stage, Kathleen Edwards and her band of men took over the stage. Kathleen began with the slower of the songs from her two albums Failer and Back To Me. The songs took on a jam band feel during the middle of the set, but after about 20 minutes the band really started to rock and have more fun with the songs, such as the title track from her latest album Back To Me. This particular evening it was so hot and humid in the Double Door that Kathleen's band was having problems keeping their instruments correctly tuned. Kathleen drew attention to the extreme heat by saying that she could have had a fan, but didn't want to go all J. Lo up on stage.

The band took a quick break outside to escape the steamy atmosphere of the Double Door, while Kathleen sang a couple of songs solo. This included a rendition of "Harper Valley PTA" that used C-U-Next-Tuesday. XRT was taping the show for one of their Sunday Night Concerts and Kathleen joked that's just "One More Song the Radio Won't Like" and contemplated adding the word to every song. The band rejoined her on stage to finish out the show.

A slow beginning, but by the end Kathleen's humor and love of the music made one sad it was over so soon. Both Mary and Kathleen sing heartfelt songs - one in a simple manner and one with more complexity. Each one has accomplished creating music that evokes the emotions of life and causes one to feel along with them before you even know it's happening. That kind of songwriting doesn't happen very much in the pop dominated world of music.

Also, just a note about drink prices. Chicagoist is unsure if the last time we were at the Double Door we had just won the lottery or just didn't care that the prices have become a little exhorbitant. An Amstel Light was $5.50 and a shot of Jagermeister will run you $6.75. $6.75? For a shot?! Predrinking before hitting the Double Door is imperative at those prices. Then again, perhaps that's the price one must pay to see good music.

Thanks, Julene!