Vic Chesnutt and his gang of musicians took to the stage on Tuesday at the Music Hall of Williamsburg for a night of crooning and drawn out chord progressions. A parapalegic sad song singer/songwriter from Athens, Georgia, Vic was helped on stage by his sidekick violinist. Also joining him were as many as 5 guitars, keys, bass (double bass at times), trumpet, and drums. In his entourage could be found Guy Piccioto of Fugazi and members of Thee Silver Mount Zion (also Godspeed You! Black Emperor), and Witchie.
The music was feircly epic, as one could only expect from 5 guitarists playing along to one progression. Ultimately the effect of so many instruments eliminated the opportunity to hear much more than a wall of sound, which was probably what Vic was going for. Efrim Menuck of Thee Silver Mount Zion/Godspeed You! Black Emperor had as close to a solo as anyone when he played out the main riffs on the upper registers of his guitar...for most of the set. Guy, remembered for his stage antics in Fugazi, had his moments of spontaneity, springing about in his chair from time to time (when the music got especially epic). In addition, he played the same black and white Rickenbacker that he sported in his days of dischord.
Vic's set lacked variety. The sheer number of musicians on stage seemed to blunt the knife, with which he attempted to split audience members' hearts. Any "wow" effect that the band may have accomplished with their initial appearance (strength in numbers?) was smothered by the audible blanket of vibrating strings that befell the audiences ears. Songs like "You Are Never Alone" and "Phillip Guston" lost much of their rustic quality. Though it affords Vic the right to bill with a star studded cast, the decision to burden the songs with so many instrumental personalities may have been ill advised.
Despite being crammed on the stage with as many as 8 other players, Vic did not lose his ability to capture the audience. The sincerity with which he sings his sorrowful anthems is apparent in his face as well as his voice and is not easily forgotten. At times Vic seemed to howl at the blue light that flooded the stage from above. Ultimately, his charisma was able to carry a performance that was otherwise lost in a sea of sounds. You would have been sad to miss it as a Vic Chesnutt fan. Otherwise, look forward to better performances this fall.
