The great Mark Mulcahy

So, when I say that Mark Mulcahy reminds me of Tom Waits, it isn't, of course, his voice, or his style, but the measure of his creativity.

Mulcahy writes songs so surprising, so peculiar, so satisfying, so spectacular, so humble, so glorious and so subtle that all one can do is smile.

He made me smile a lot tonight at his Buttownwood Tree concert at the Oddfellows Playhouse in Middletown.

All this greatness, and less than a block from my house.

Another case for Case

Peter Case arrived at the Buttonwood Tree in a red 2007 Mustang, and left the same way. In between he told a long, long story about locking his keys in the trunk of that Mustang, and he sang his heart out for the 40 souls who braved a Monday night, abandoned the Red Sox, and spent a bit of time in Peter's world.

Case was marvelous playing everything from a barrelhouse Dylan blues (Black Crow Blues) on the Buttonwood Tree's grand piano, to several from his new album, and greats like "Poor Old Tom," "Beyond The Blues," "Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda" and "The Dreams We Hide." He also played the first song he ever wrote, "that anyone ever wanted me to play again."

He packed his trunk, holding the keys tightly, and set off for Buffalo, or some motel between Middletown and Buffalo.