Thursday, November 05, 2009

TONIGHT IN MANCHESTER: Mark Eitzel

In a week of 'event' gigs (Daniel Johnston at Manchester Town Hall, Grizzly Bear and St Vincent at Manchester Cathedral), this 'lesser' event may have missed your attention. Mark Eitzel, singer-songwriter, leader of American Music Club, and king of despair and heartbreak is playing in a church in Whally Range.

Promoter Hey Manchester gives a good summary of Mark's career which is handy as I haven't kept up with Mark/the reformed AMC for most of the noughties. So I can't comment on the later records but his late 80s/early 90s material is highly recommended. If you look at All Music's list of 'Moods' to describe American Music Club the first ten are: Sardonic, Brooding, Angst-Ridden, Cynical/ Sarcastic, Wry, Melancholy, Earnest, Cerebral, Literate, Acerbic, Witty. Don't be put off: the bitterness of Mark Eitzel's lyrics are off-set by the passionate delivery and the quality of song-writing. And tonight is a solo piano performance which will had a touch of grandeur to already majestic songs like 'Johnny Mathis' Feet'.




Mark Eitzel playing solo piano. Support coming from two other piano-players, Franz Nicolay (of The Hold Steady) and Aidan Smith. In St Margaret's Church in Whally Range. Perfect to shelter from the fireworks and bad weather. And most certainly an 'event'. Grab advance tickets while you can.

WESTERN SKY
Mark Eitzel
Songs of Love Live [BUY]

WISH THE WORLD AWAY
American Music Club
San Francisco [BUY]

2 comments:

Highwayfive said...

Love the blog. Found it via a google alert for Mark Eitzel.

The gigs on this tour have been amazing. They is a fair amount of footage floating about on the web of these gigs although I am not sure if there is any from Manchester.

I have posted a couple of videos that a friend took of the gig in Bristol on my blog.

The Archivist said...

Cheers for kind words and tips. Heading your way now to check out the videos....