• 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
    • 5 DOUBLE-U’S
    • MASTHEAD
    • DISTRIBUTION
    • ADVERTISE
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 23.02 – 1/28/21

FOTOBOM: ROBYN HITCHCOCK @ ONCE, 03MAR17

Written by TIM BUGBEE Posted March 13, 2017 Filed Under: Fotobom, MUSIC, Reviews

SOMERVILLE, MA – MARCH 3: Robyn Hitchcock (with Emma Swift as support) embarks on a solo tour, playing songs from throughout his expansive discography. During the all Bob Dylan encore, he was joined by Bob Dylan’s keyboardist, Al Kooper. Shot at ONCE on Friday, March 3, 2017. All Rights Reserved / © Tim Bugbee

 

Even though Robyn Hitchcock’s been living in Nashville for the last few years, he’s not suddenly been corrupted by the machine and had his muse carjacked into writing songs about pickup trucks, chicks, and getting drunk on Natty Lights. However, he’s seriously toned down the fish and insect references over the last couple of decades, and if you want a flavor of his stream-of-consciousness surrealism that would make Dali’s mustache spin around, you’ll need to wait for the between song breaks. I can’t speak for the rest of the sold out room, but I’ll never think about wet cat food and airline pilots the same way again.

 

 

When you’ve got twenty-odd solo records under your belt, as well as a mighty arsenal of covers (more on that later), creating a set list can be like a Rubik’s Cube, with endless possibilities. Hitchcock makes use of his deep repertoire,  and while he didn’t plumb the extreme depths as he did in NYC, playing his first solo record with Yo La Tengo as his backing band, as well as reaching far into some of his obscure solo tracks and assorted Soft Boys songs, he hit to all corners of the field as well as Wade Boggs did in his prime.

 

 

As he left Peter Buck and his other friends known as the Venus 3 behind for this tour, it was just him and his acoustic guitar. Singing his particular verses while playing some intricate patterns isn’t the easiest task in the world, and I often feel that he’s sorely underrated as a guitar player. The carefully plucked, circular notes of “I Often Dream Of Trains” faded as the song came to a close, and Robyn sang “I’m waiting for you, Emma, Emma, Emma?” instead “I’m waiting for you, baby, baby, baby.” Which was the cue for Emma Swift to come on stage and play both sides of their recently released 7″ single.

 

 

It’s hard to believe that “N.Y. Doll” is over ten years old, and Arthur Kane’s untimely passing remains one of Hitchcock’s most achingly beautiful songs, a paean to the odds of surviving until you don’t. If you don’t tear up a bit as he sang “But in the library of your memory/People live in their books/till the pages close/Close on me like they’re gonna/Close on you,” you’ve got a heart of stone.

 

 

And… onto the encore. As part of the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan plugging in, the final set of Newport Folk Fest in 2016 was devoted to a slew of performers playing Dylan covers. Though the rumor rippling across Fort Adams was that Bobby Z himself would appear, that didn’t happen, but a few musicians who didn’t play the festival did make appearances. Hitchcock was one of those, playing what he proclaimed as his favorite song of all time (“Visions Of Johanna”), and Al Kooper also appeared, the man behind the keyboards for that period of Dylan’s career arc. They must have exchanged contact info at the show, as Kooper would appear tonight when Hitchcock played a trio of Dylan songs. In addition to “Johanna,” Emma Swift joined in for “Just Like A Woman,” and the meandering “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” steered the show to a close. Despite his slight vocal problems that a brandy magically cured, Hitchcock laid out a kaleidoscope of fractured psych/pop genius once again.

 

 

Emma Swift, an Aussie who’s also found herself residing in Nashville, provided opening duties and played a mesmerizing, minimalist set of barely strummed electric guitar and breathy, whispered vocals, like she was letting you in some sort of secret. And she’s obviously got a pretty deep knowledge of the best bands from her native land, playing a cover of Boys Next Door’s “Shivers” that ended her set.

 

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: Acoustic, Al Kooper, Bob Dylan, Emma Swift, Fotobom, Once, ONCE Somerville, Robyn Hitchcock, singer/songwriter, solo performance

WHAT’S NEW

SOMERVILLE MAYOR CURTATONE DROPS BOMBSHELL AHEAD OF MIDTERM ADDRESS

SOMERVILLE MAYOR CURTATONE DROPS BOMBSHELL AHEAD OF MIDTERM ADDRESS

CAMPBELL UNVEILS PLAN FOR POLICE TRANSPARENCY

CAMPBELL UNVEILS PLAN FOR POLICE TRANSPARENCY

SPECIAL FEATURE: THE CRUEL AND USUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN MASS PRISONS

SPECIAL FEATURE: THE CRUEL AND USUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN MASS PRISONS

INBOX: GROUP CALLS FOR BIDEN TO ABOLISH POLICE MILITARIZATION PROGRAM

INBOX: GROUP CALLS FOR BIDEN TO ABOLISH POLICE MILITARIZATION PROGRAM

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE CITY AND STATE TO FINALLY SUPPORT MINORITY BUSINESS?

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE CITY AND STATE TO FINALLY SUPPORT MINORITY BUSINESS?

HOMEWORK FOR BEACON HILL’S COVID EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

HOMEWORK FOR BEACON HILL’S COVID EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Primary Sidebar

HEMPIRE FREEDOM PACK 25% OFF

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE MASS STATE POLICE: TROOPER WILSON’S WAR by CHRIS FARAONE
  • [UPDATE: WE GOT IT!] WHERE IS THE CONTRACT FOR MASSACHUSETTS’ VACCINE APPOINTMENT SOFTWARE? by POLINA WHITEHOUSE
  • BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY GRADS FIGHT FOR REPRESENTATION IN ALUMNI GROUP by CHRIS FARAONE
  • DOES THE FORMER BPD COMMISSIONER EVEN LIVE IN BOSTON? by ZACK HUFFMAN
  • MASS KEEPS TRYING TO BUILD A NEW WOMEN’S PRISON OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC VIEW by DAN ATKINSON

READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

DIG Member 1.9 – 11/26/20

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG 23.02 – 1/28/21

Footer

digbos

Includes Gang Green, The Freeze, SIEGE, TREE, and Includes Gang Green, The Freeze, SIEGE, TREE, and many more. https://digboston.com/iconic-lineup-comes-through-to-support-nantasket-venue-through-pandemic/ #music #digital #benefit #Hull #Massachusetts
Our interview with Avi Loeb, author of “Extrater Our interview with Avi Loeb, author of “Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth.” https://buff.ly/2O3nlUd #interview #book #alien #technology #astronomy #controversy #debate #science #Boston #Massachusetts
LGBTQ+ prisoners in Mass stand up to a violent sys LGBTQ+ prisoners in Mass stand up to a violent system that targets and dehumanizes vulnerable populations. https://digboston.com/special-feature-the-cruel-and-usual-violence-against-lgbtq-people-in-mass-prisons/ #prison #prisoner #humanrights #LGBT #politics #Massachusetts
Nominations now open! Vote for your favorite busin Nominations now open! Vote for your favorite businesses today. 

Are you a business? Are you the best at what you do? Encourage your fans to cast their votes! DM us to get our social media materials to promote your business and ensure your win. #bostontops #digboston
Bill sponsors, #Framingham mayor, and MA district Bill sponsors, #Framingham mayor, and MA district attorney will explain the Work & Family Mobility Act at a press conference. https://digboston.com/driving-families-forward-coalition-aims-to-help-undocumented-attain-drivers-licenses/ #politics #undocumented #immigration #driving #license #Massachusetts
Today at 4pm, cast your votes! #digboston Today at 4pm, cast your votes! #digboston
At a virtual summit, leaders sought to educate and At a virtual summit, leaders sought to educate and engage on the need for change. https://digboston.com/officials-advocates-speak-to-immigration-reform-and-economic-recovery/ #immigration #reform #economy #politics #Massachusetts
When it comes to special packaging and limited edi When it comes to special packaging and limited editions, Jack’s Abby and subsidiary Springdale out in Framingham are top players. https://digboston.com/video-unboxing-springdale-beers-limited-edition-neipa-music-box-set/ #beer #fun
Industrial Arts Brewing in NY’s Hudson Valley is Industrial Arts Brewing in NY’s Hudson Valley is well worth the look out of state ... https://digboston.com/video-pocket-wrench-by-industrial-arts-brewing-is-a-super-satisfying-session/ #beer #fun
Some who are civilly committed for #addiction in M Some who are civilly committed for #addiction in Mass face abusive #prison conditions. Still, some families say it’s better than the alternative https://digboston.com/the-commitments-addiction-treatment-behind-bars-in-massachusetts/ #treatment #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]