• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 23.05 – 4/8/21

FOTOBOM: NEKO CASE, MARGARET GLASPY @ ROYALE

Written by TIM BUGBEE Posted January 28, 2019 Filed Under: Fotobom, MUSIC, Reviews

All photos – © Tim Bugbee

 

It took a little while, but Neko Case finally landed in town for a headlining slot instead of as support for someone else’s tour. She’s still in the promotion cycle for last year’s excellent Hell-On, and if you’re a fan of that record you got a heaping handful and then some. Three quarters of the record was played throughout the generous two dozen song set, and the highlights truly sparkled. Case’s voice is well documented, a powerful, nuanced and evocative instrument that has few peers. The way she sings lines like “She didn’t ask to be your remake or your muse/We’re parasites inside her blues” from “Halls of Sarah” or “Oracle of The Maritimes” with the piercing “There’s no way I could tell you/How much I could love you/’Cause I’ve never been so scared of anything” hit hard. The latter song is one of her absolute finest from a career impressively deep with gems, and the band delivered a tightly coiled performance for maximum effect.

 

 

The title track also was a riveting moment. The lilting waltz tempo that Case uses so effectively was broken into a million shards with the joined banshee screams of Case and her background singers Rachel Flotard and Shelley Short, a much more forceful blast than the relatively subdued version on the record. (“You don’t have permission to take any pictures” took on a art/life imitation aspect when before the show started, a recorded voice respectfully asked that people refrain from taking photos or videos at the risk of being escorted from the show. And while some people likely groused over their perceived trampling of personal rights, it was very refreshing to see an entire room focused on what was happening on stage, not filtered through a small, luminous rectangle.)

 

 

It’s doubtful that Case could get through an entire set without playing two of her signature songs, and thankfully both “Hold On, Hold On” and “This Tornado Loves You” weren’t ignored. It would be remiss to say that it’s a new lineup now, as aside from Jon Rauhouse on guitar, the six other musicians have been playing with her for a few tours now and sound totally locked in. That said, there was a bit of playful banter missing via the usual back and forth of Case and departed singer/foil Kelly Hogan, though Case did tweak the guitar nerds in attendance by saying that her tenor guitar was basically a ukulele, despite the howling protests of gear heads who would claim otherwise. A rousing cover of the Nervous Eater’s “Loretta” made a strong connection to Boston, and the evening eased out with the triumphant “Ragtime.”

 

 

Margart Glaspy took the stage first, alone save her guitar, strong voice, and well-crafted songs. She’s got a bit of a Billy Bragg guitar style that securely anchors the rhythm and lets her get down to delivering the lyrics in a very confident, yet carefree way. She relayed her Bostonian experience as a student at Berklee, and talked about her sister’s cassette collection, which led directly to her cover of “Ex-Factor,” the Lauryn Hill song that was a constant part of her soundtrack for two years.

 

All Rights Reserved / © Tim Bugbee

TIM BUGBEE
More from author
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: BLUE ÖYSTER CULT @ CHESHIRE FAIRGROUNDS
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: BAT FOR LASHES @ THE SINCLAIR
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: MODERN NATURE, OLDEN YOLK, CARINAE @ THE LILYPAD
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: WEEN @ HOUSE OF BLUES

Filed Under: Fotobom, MUSIC, Reviews Tagged With: Boston, Fotobom, Hell-On, live music, Margaret Glaspy, Neko Case, royale

WHAT’S NEW

POLITICIANS GET IN LINE TO CALL FOR BOSTON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

POLITICIANS GET IN LINE TO CALL FOR BOSTON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

PARENTS RELEASE AN ANALYSIS OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDRAISING INEQUITIES

PARENTS RELEASE AN ANALYSIS OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDRAISING INEQUITIES

IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

PICS & RECAP: COMMUNITY CANDLE VIGIL HONORING VICTIMS OF ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE

PICS & RECAP: COMMUNITY CANDLE VIGIL HONORING VICTIMS OF ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE

CAMBRIDGE CHURCH MINISTER SPEAKS ABOUT RECENT VANDALISM OF SIGN

CAMBRIDGE CHURCH MINISTER SPEAKS ABOUT RECENT VANDALISM OF SIGN

PRESSLEY MEETS WITH LOCAL 26 WORKERS

PRESSLEY MEETS WITH LOCAL 26 WORKERS

Primary Sidebar

HEMPIRE FREEDOM PACK 25% OFF

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • VACCINE EQUITY NOW! COALITION ASKS BAKER TO ALLOCATE 20% OF NEW DOSES TO HARD HIT COMMUNITIES by SHIRA LAUCHAROEN
  • A NEW PLACE FOR MORE PEOPLE TO CALL HOME IN TOUGH TIMES by MARK EMMONS
  • rally to protest discrimination and crimes against Asian and Pacific islanders during Stop Asian Hate rally on Boston Common in Boston PICS & RECAP: “STOP ASIAN HATE BOSTON” RALLY ON THE COMMON by KEIKO HIROMI
  • IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION by CHRIS FARAONE
  • A FAREWELL TRIBUTE (OF SORTS) TO MARTY WALSH by DIG STAFF

READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

DIG Member 2.1 – March 2021

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG 23.05 – 4/8/21

Footer

digbos

digbos
“We’re not going to survive for 20 more years “We’re not going to survive for 20 more years if we don’t do this [move to a bigger space].” https://digboston.com/how-juliet-hit-a-100k-kickstarter-goal-in-4-days/ #restaurant #business #food #crowdfund #SomervilleMA #coronavirus #COVID19
EDITORIAL: DIGBOSTON SEEKS CLIMATE IDEAS FOR MAYOR EDITORIAL: DIGBOSTON SEEKS CLIMATE IDEAS FOR MAYOR KIM JANEY. Environmental organizations and individual activists invited to submit opinion articles for publication. https://digboston.com/editorial-digboston-seeks-climate-ideas-for-mayor-kim-janey/ #politics @boston_mayor #environment #globalwarming #climate #activist #callforsubmissions #policy #Boston #Massachusetts
“Most are some of my favorite bars or local clas “Most are some of my favorite bars or local classics that I’ve learned to love in my time living in the city. Others just have a great facade that I know would make a great drawing.” https://digboston.com/drawn-but-not-forgotten-local-artist-sketches-beloved-boston-restaurants/ #art #artist #sketch #drawing #Boston #Massachusetts #bar #restaurant
Despite #pandemic hurdles, Mass #music instructors Despite #pandemic hurdles, Mass #music instructors hit new high notes. “My #teaching has gone to another level.” https://digboston.com/the-medium-is-the-maestro/ #education #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
From the podcast to the book, Wayne Federman chron From the podcast to the book, Wayne Federman chronicles the business of joke-telling. https://digboston.com/the-history-of-stand-up-from-mark-twain-to-dave-chappelle/ #comedy #history #book #interview #Boston #Massachusetts
“I’m calling on some of you to drop by a local “I’m calling on some of you to drop by a local field office and hear what people have to say.” https://digboston.com/dear-reader-the-political-season-is-upon-us-embrace-it/ #politics #commentary #election #Massachusetts
“I think most people agree that we want our publ “I think most people agree that we want our public dollars to go to those companies that are not cutting corners.” https://digboston.com/bill-seeks-to-penalize-contractors-for-unsafe-conditions/ #politics #legislation #construction #safety #labor #Massachusetts
“It’s just shocking to me for Massachusetts, t “It’s just shocking to me for Massachusetts, the state that puts itself forward as this paragon of democracy. Those are just fundamental building blocks of a democratic society.” https://digboston.com/researchers-show-extent-of-lobbying-against-climate-bills-in-ma/ #environment #globalwarming #climate #crisis #politics #lobby #Massachusetts
I was lucky enough to get an extra #vaccine. Here’s how it went down. https://digboston.com/young-healthy-and-inoculated/ #young #youth #student #college #vaccination #publichealth #health #Boston #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
The MBTA confirmed that it will “fully fund its The MBTA confirmed that it will “fully fund its operating budget in the coming fiscal year and begin to restore cut service.” https://digboston.com/public-transit-public-good-responds-to-restoring-mbta-service/ #transportation #politics #Massachusetts
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Submissions

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]