LOSER'S LOUNGE: FLEETWOOD MAC

Having enjoyed many Loser's Lounge events (come Bastille Day there'll be another Serge Gainsbourg tribute at Joe's Pub at 7:30 and 9:30), I've found that there's a thin line between brilliant covers and covers that could come from just another cover band. Of course, I go to Loser's Lounge seeking the brilliance, which often comes from inspired musicianship or inspired spoofing or an inspired combination of both. Without the inspiration—the passion—well, we're talking cover band. Routine music, routine routines.

The Thursday, June 7 Loser's Lounge ventured too close too often to cover band land, but one performer made a huge difference. As far as I was concerned, it was Tricia Scotti's night. In number after number she sang backup and played guitar and other instruments with an eerily intense focus...and she had her spotlight moment with "Rhiannon," one of those special performances that bring me back to Loser's Lounge again and again. Almost everything she did fell into the "inspired musicianship" category, but at one "classic" moment in the evening she held a candle aloft and thus scored points in the "inspired spoofing" category—even if she was totally serious about that gesture, too.

It says in the program that Scotti "met the Losers when they did Fleetwood Mac the first time, after asking Joe to be part of the back-up crew because of her 'big love' for the Mac—and is thankful for the chance to do it again, and especially for the friendships and music made since then." That's the spirit—and it's appreciated! And, as you can see via Scoboco, I'm not the only one who noticed.

Here are highlights from the following evening—footage of Lianne Smith (with Scotti on guitar), The HoHos (with Scotti singing backup), and Scotti (soloing). Smith and The HoHos weren't there on the night I attended.



Source (5:37)


And here's total HoHo video.



Source (5:46)