DMP featured an evening of songwriters on June 25th at the Burro. Randy Furches and company began the night, singing stories of love and lives lost. He’s got a smoky vibrato almost like Huey Lewis, but trade the mass-produced sound of the News for plucked guitar. Furches is also a singer not afraid to open up his throat and let loose.
Photo by Doug Klesch
Most of Furches’ set featured Hank Johnson’s accompaniment. Johnson is equally comfortable ripping creamy licks in the spirit of Santana as he is picking a mandolin. Furches carries on the musical legacy of his great great uncle, Peter De Graff, author of the widely covered folk song, “Poor Ellen Smith.” In 1893 De Graff was convicted and eventually hanged for the murder of Smith – not far from where we heard Furches’ rendition at the Burro, and the song lives on today. It’s been covered by such names as Jerry Garcia, the Kingston Trio and Flatt and Scruggs.
Photo by Elizabeth Lemon
Furches’ set finished with an unexpected turn from folk and blues into….wait for it y’all….trip-hop folk. Yes, that’s right, Furches’ third guest was Kevin Schultz, AKA – King-Kev-O, rapping over his song “Cryogenics.”
Photo by Stephen Charles
Morgan McPherson’s set featured songs from her debut album, “Stranger in the Mirror” which was released in January. On piano, she fronted a trio that also featured fret-less bass and heavy-handed drums. McPherson writes brooding, tight power-pop that reconciles with haunting memories of love and heartache. For example, even on “Daydreams”, a self-described “happy song”, McPherson accentuates this through the brooding, pounding quality of the grand piano tone.
Photo by Doug Klesch
Kristen Leigh closed the night, accompanied by Ueli Schweizer on violin and Sara Dickson on piano. Leigh is blessed with one of those rich voices that would still be captivating if she sang insurance quotes. She’s a songwriter who uses the absence of sound in her songs as well as when she sings and strums the guitar.
Photo by Doug Klesch
A highlight from her set was “Little Star”, a lullaby written for a close friend upon hearing of her pregnancy. “I will always love you in my own imperfect way,” sang Leigh.
A striking performance, Leigh wrapped up a night which featured three distinct and well-received Greensboro songwriters.
I was actually thinking about putting my Geico quote on the next album.