LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A slew of talented singer-songwriters came together for the Gimme Shelter Benefit at the Roxy in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Dec. 5).
Charlotte Martin, Starsailor, Glen Phillips, Joe Henry, John Mayer, John Doe, and surprise guest Frank Black all lent their services to the annual event, which benefits the H.E.L.P Group, California's leading non-profit children's organization.
Newcomer Martin caught the attention of those in attendance as soon as she sat down behind her piano, her striking good looks only complimented by a capricious four-song set that featured flirtatious glances and dramatic (sometimes overly so) lyrics ("I'm Normal�Please Date Me"). Think Britney Spears for the Tori Amos set.
Starsailor's James Walsh - one of the evening's bigger draws - then sat down for a three-song acoustic set, which showcased his soaring pipes. Walsh highlighted two of his own band's tracks ("Good Souls," Alcoholic") before paying homage to fellow compatriot Ryan Adams on the latter's "16 Days," which segued nicely into Elton John's "Rocket Man."
Frank Black |
Surprise guest
Black followed with a nonsensical three-song set that was much disrespected by the crowd, many of whom could be heard asking, "Who's Frank Black?" If you could hear a pin drop during Walsh's set, you couldn't have heard an A-Bomb drop during Black's. Still,
Black -- clearly irritated -- forged on with a cover of
Tom Waits' "Black Rider," the lone gem lodged between two entirely fatuous songs.
Ex-Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman Phillips found a more welcoming audience for his five-song set. Phillips has abandoned the country-fried folk rock that bogged down his early post-Toad shows and seems back on track with clever, more smile-friendly acoustic ditties. Toad's "Whatever I Fear" was the stand out here.
Henry kicked off his set with his version of his sister-in-law's "Don't Tell Me" (that's Madonna for those who don�t know) called "Stop." Henry's set was a welcomed break from the unplugged, as the singer-songwriter brought his full band and got rowdy by comparison to those who played before him. His bluesy roots rock was just what the audience ordered, although it was Mayer who was apparently the biggest draw of the evening.
John Doe |
Marketing does wonders, and Mayer is a pro. Having already turned a healthy
Internet following into a deal with Columbia Records, Mayer was the only artist selling merchandise (proceeds to the charity, of course), and the only artist greeting fans after his set. The crowd roared with approval at the first notes of each of his Southern-tilted,
Dave Matthews-esque love songs, and nearly all of them split when he was through.
That left few present to witness former X bassist John Doe, who brought along a standing bass player and pianist for his headlining set. The six-song affair was low key and bogged down with new songs most of those left in attendance didn't even know, and would have served itself better a little earlier in the evening. At showcases such as this, following Mayer is simply not a desired position to find oneself.
