Red Molly Concert

On Sept 26 we went to the Homegrown Coffeehouse, in Needham, MA at the UU church to see Red Molly, an excellent group who we saw the past summer at Club Passim. Before the show, we went to eat at Sweet Basil, around the corner, a place that does not take reservations! Therefore, while we were waiting the 20-30 minutes, we went over to the church to see if we had to pay or what (Emily had ordered tickets online awhile ago).

While trying to figure out where the entrance was (on the side), I saw one of the group (Abbie) in the window and gave her a vigorous wave, to which she replied with her own wave. Then we went in and up the stairs to see the place and Abby and Laurie came out and chatted us up a bit. The guy in charge let us go in and put our coats on some seats in the front, which was fortuitous because when we came back to go in there was a big line, even at 7:30. The church is so small that there really wasn't a bad seat.

Of course, I can't remember the entire set list...but at the end, when we went up to the stage to chat them up some more (J had questions about the dobro - a Scheerhorn Wechter - and I wanted to get a closer look at the acoustic bass guitar - a $400 Dean), they said they had 16 songs over the 2 sets. Some of the songs that they did were, in no particular order:

Caleb Meyer (first song - Abbie in lead)

Summertime (by Carolann)

Wayfaring Stranger

A solo by Carolann

Long Ride Home (Patty Griffin)

The Mind of a Soldier (winner of the John Lennon songwriting contest)

It's Good-bye and So Long to You

A Tim O'Brien learned song I don't know the name of...

May I Suggest (a stunning a capella song that they did as an encore and in the center of the church with no mic's...a religious experience right there!)

Jud Caswell, of Brunswick, ME, opened the night with an excellent set. He sat down front without amplification to do "Blackberry Time", which made it all feel so cozy. He also came out in the middle of the Molly's set to sing the song that gave them their name, by Richard Thompson.

Red Molly comes up to the Boston area a few times a year, so make sure you go check them out when they do, before they get too famous and you won't be able to get close to them!

Chris