KATE TAYLOR, THE DOUBLENECKS
Studio 99, Nashua, NH
1/10/10

From Georgetown, MA, I drive to Nashua, NH, via Cambridge, MA (to attend Asa Brebner’s art show opening at Passim) and poor planning lands me about 20 minutes late for Studio 99’s early starting time of 7:00. I stroll into a medium-size room with folding chairs covering two-thirds of the space; the other third is the stage area. On the stage side sit two guitarists, spread out about 10 feet apart, performing “Ashland,” a mellow Jeff Beck-like instrumental. There’s no singing here. On left is Jimmy Gaudette, playing his ’56 natural sunburst Gibson ES125 hollow body with F holes, and on the right is Mike Loce on a ’71 Les Paul Recording—a guitar that has as many switches and knobs as a cockpit. These guys are both above-excellent guitarist. They swing into “Red River Valley”—though they call it “Merrimack River Rock.” The show is a study in pure guitar sounds. They close the show with covers of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown” and the Ventures’ “Walk Don’t Run.” I think I have to go home now and work on my guitar skills.

Okay, I decide to stay to see Kate Taylor, who also performs tonight as a duet with Billy Derby—another guitarist who puts me in awe of his playing. Kate plays an acoustic in most of her songs too, but, when she doesn’t, Billy has no fear in taking solos that leave wide-open space for you to feel the beat—not as easy as it sounds. Kate is a wonderful storyteller between songs—her daughter pleaded with her not to play “Don’t Break Two Hearts” before her wedding—the opening line is “Stop the wedding!” She learned about carny barking at the Martha’s Vineyard annual agricultural fair and found it a place full of romance to be had. The title of her latest CD is Fair Time, and she plays the title track. She and Billy do almost all their recording in Billy’s home studio in Bedford, NH. One highlight is their soul groovin’ version of Ike Turner’s “You’re Just a Fool”—made for a duet to sing. Kate tells a touching story before “Red Tail,” a song about her late husband, Charlie Witham, and the embodiment of his spirit in the red tail hawk, who would circle the sky during family occasions. With “Soap Opera Life” and “King of the Pond” the story telling is as much a part of the show as the musical performance. After the duet ends with “Auld Lang Syne,” Kate heads right into the small audience and chats with everyone individually. This was a very special night. (T Max)

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