There was a time in the 1970s when male artists could become famous by simply writing and singing great songs. Seemingly average joes such as Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Elton John sold millions of records without subscribing to the psychedelia of 60s rock, the angst of punk, the glam of the 80s, or the hyper-masculinity of metal and hip-hop. Today, acts such as Coldplay and James Blunt might hint at a resurgence of this more sensitive music. Two exemplars of this more introspective writing and performing style, Spencer Day (pictured) and James Harries, are coming to town tonight as co-headliners for a show at The State Theater. The two artists make for an interesting pairing that will give the audience a broad spectrum of lyrically driven music that ranges from simple folk tunes to lushly orchestrated pop songs that recall the the heydays of Tin Pan Alley and the Brill Building.
In almost every sense, Spencer Day is Harries’ complete opposite in that he has a much more symphonic, melodic approach to music. While Harries is a guitar driven artist, Day is piano driven and like artists such as Elton John or Billy Joel, it shows in his work. His latest release, Movie of Your Life, employs rich arrangements in the vein of Burt Bacharach, or even Barry Manilow, but that does not mean his music is soft-rock schlock. The music stretches from Ravel-esque boleros to Al Green inspired R&B. His smooth tenor sounds much more schooled than that of Harries’ and it is a perfect fit for the colorful accompaniment. Day used nearly twenty musicians on his recording, so it will be interesting to see how he translates these songs to a live setting. Given his strength as an arranger and the quality of the venues in which he has played, which range from legendary jazz venues to the Kennedy Center, there is little doubt the songs will sound as rich in performance as they do on wax.
Harries, a Prague-based British songwriter, has garnered impressive notices in many European publications and has a loyal following throughout the continent. This tour marks his first to the United States and it is in support of Days Like These, his third release. Of tonight’s performers, Harries has the more contemporary influences, as one hears elements of Coldplay and Jeff Buckley in his writing and singing style. The songs on the disc tend to be driven by acoustic guitar and could, for the most part, be characterized as folk-influenced rock. The straight-forward backing arrangements, with the exception of the tango inspired “Ghost Town,” a highlight of the record, place an emphasis on the lyrics and melody. Lyrically, the album uses inter-personal relationships and the struggle to establish them as central themes.
The State Theater is located at 220 N. Washington Street in Falls Church, VA. Doors are at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online. $15.
Image taken from Spencer Day’s MySpace page
