Tonight was an intimate, unique, and heartwarming night of music at the Fillmore, despite being a little rough around the edges at times.
Opener Christina Vane delivered a short and sweet set of her particular brand of delta and country blues. Vane (27, based in Nashville and originally from Europe) exudes a distinct 90’s small-town Pacific Northwest vibe. But this girl is an old soul who is really feeling the blues! Think PJ Harvey meets Lead Belly… Great voice, great guitar (which is probably older than her), great slide guitar skills (even with her currently broken finger), Vane was warm and engaging with her down-home smile and slightly nervous stage banter. She was clearly feeling good! The blue-frosted tips of her hair swinging and her eyes disappearing into crescent moon slivers as she belted out the blues. Vane has an effortless delivery, while also being somewhat sophomoric. It’s easy to envision her having been plucked off a hippie bus headed to the rainbow gathering, playing a side-stage at the Hog Farm, or busking on the boardwalk in Venice Beach (which she actually did a lot of). I can hear a lot of potential for her, especially once she acquires a backing band and fleshes out her songs. Her first LP is set for a May release.
Next up is The Big Noise, doing an opening set sans-Wynonna, that honestly went on twice as long as it needed to. They opened with Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home”. While the band sounded tight, the vocalist on that track was not delivering the goods and the mic was turned way too far down. They are technically great musicians, but lacking luster. Like a bar band who desperately needs a front-person.
At times I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was in a casino, or listening to a Daytona NASCAR musical interlude. They played several unknown songs/jams, presumably some of their original material, including some indistinguishable Allman Brothers style jamming (with a definite ‘Whipping Post’ tease). Wynonna slips out on stage to bring her husband a beer (Cactus Moser, the drummer), and the crowd got a little needlessly excited because she slipped right back off stage. Moser belted out a ho-hum version of Dave Edmonds “I Hear You Knocking”, but the man’s energy was infectious. He was happy as a clam in his elaborate drum kit, reminding me of Mick Fleetwood. “Here we are at the mother church of the West Coast”. OK enough already, the crowd was getting antsy for Wynonna.
Wynonna struts onstage as the band tears into Elvis’ “Burning Love”. The crowd freaks out immediately! This first song practically feeling like an encore. She immediately pulled us in with her campy appeal- full on snarling Elvis lips and some really exaggerated eyes rolling so far back in her head that I thought they might be gone forever. She looks incredible in a black velour tracksuit underneath a flowing crocheted glittery black poncho with long fringe, very classy and cozy. She is also covered in what appears to be a whole cans’ worth of spray glitter, which accents her bright red hair like flint sparks in a lighter flame. Wynonna takes immediate and total command. We are hers for the evening and she won’t take no for an answer. The stage banter starts right away, and there will be a lot of it this evening. “Why dontcha get a close up of this”. She takes the first of several opportunities of the night to mention that she is actually a local girl and grew up mostly in Lagunitas in Marin County. Along with her mom Naomi and sister Ashley, they lived above a post office and she went to Sir Francis Drake high school. “I was just a teenager in Lagunitas when all this started, and standing here is so cool I can barely deal with myself, but today I’m grateful”. Now some Judds hits: “Cry Myself To Sleep” sounds flawless, she is as vigorous as in her heyday. “Love is Alive” (One of my personal favorites) had me a little misty as the crowd sang along on the chorus. She is living in a state of gratitude after performing for 38 years now and she made that abundantly clear throughout the night. Judd’s solo hit “I Saw The Light” had unwavering conviction and passion. The crowd was juiced. “Don’t ever give up on your dreams. We get paid to travel and we play for free”. A mandolin tinged, stripped-down bluegrass porch swinging version of “grandpa (tell me bout the good old days)” had the house in full sing-along mode. “Country music is real people music”. Her voice sounds barely aged but certainly has more experience behind it. Hubby Cactus leaves his drum kit and picks up a mandolin for “What The World Needs Now”. The stage schtick just keeps coming. “Life is a journey… it’ll be fun they said”.
Now for a real highlight, a cover of Joni Mitchell’s”California.” They started the song over several times, complete with comical self deprecating jabs. Even midway through, they stopped a few times again to get it right and she finally nailed the verse flawlessly with her sweet, self assured vocals. Not being a huge Joni fan, I almost liked this cover version better. Her high notes were perfect, and I got full on chills as she finally got out that one verse. Her fun, humorous stage persona had me smitten at this point.
Our first special guest, Cass McCombs, came out to do three of his songs with the band. It’s a definite change of pace midway through the show. He starts with “Great Pixley Train Robbery,” a perfectly fitting track to play from last years Tip of the Sphere album. Wynonna muses, “I’ve always wanted to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band”. McCombs seems almost a little intimidated; relaxed but clearly excited and happy for this opportunity. Wynonna seems to be mouthing the words to one of the songs… will she chime in on vocals? No, she just shakes her maraca and grooves along intently. She sings light back up vocals on McCombs’ “Switch” which sounds not very rehearsed, if at all. She contributes some harmonica on the final McCombs song, thanks Cass for his music and artistry, and he leaves the stage.
Now for the real treat of the night. Bay area royalty Bob Weir steps out, very unassuming, gives a slight nod to the hoots and hollers coming from the sparse amount of Deadheads in attendance tonight. Wynonna does a quick introduction and then the band starts up with “Ramble on Rose,” a Dead staple. The crowd digs it even though most don’t know the tune. Wynonna dances, very loose and comfortable in her body, while Weir handles all the vocal duties. As a Deadhead and also huge Judds fan, I got that magic feeling I knew I would get tonight- like something real special is happening. The band blasts into the iconic Dead tune “Truckin’.” Wynonna seems like she wants to sing some, but keeps backing off. I wondered, how does she not know this one?! After “Truckin’” was done, she admitted she wanted to sing but could only stand there “in awe of what’s happening and this man next to me”. Likely story, but she played it off well. Next is Dead classic “Althea” Bobby sounds great as usual. He is one of the most seasoned musicians alive, a man who was just playing two sold out NYE shows at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Now here he is playing to a sparse crowd at the Fillmore with country queen Wynonna Judd. It’s pretty random, and even a touch awkward which was the feeling during “Althea.” Wynonna definitely should’ve brushed up better on these Dead tunes. It seemed like she was hearing “Althea” for maybe the second time. And it certainly seemed like she hasn’t done nearly as many drugs as Bobby. Now was it Wynonna’s turn to be slightly intimidated onstage? It felt like a bit of a missed opportunity with Bobby especially on this song. Afterwards she was being especially corny because she knew she had to do something. So she banters some and then belts out the Judds’ “I Know Where I’m Going.” Things are sounding more comfortable, and obviously everyone wants to hear as many Judds songs as possible. Then we get another Dead classic, “Jack Straw.” It’s a nice relaxed version and they actually did some lively vocal trade-offs this time. OK good, they really delivered on “Jack Straw.” They had an effortless harmony together, and assuming both her and the band hadn’t practiced this very much it really showed their chops. Bobby gave pretty damn near perfect vocals and conviction. The song resonated deeply in the Fillmore hall, with that fantastic sound and intimacy it’s so famous for. This venue has heard the song many times, but never quite like this.
Bobby switches his guitars while Wynonna shares about the collaboration. She says Bobby called her back “in 10 minutes” and was an immediate yes. “Thank you so much for showing up, it’s a good day. I just love the thought of you sitting at home practicing my tunes”, to which Bobby says “I ain’t got nothing better to do”. They start in on early Judds classic “Why Not Me.” It sounds amazing with another big audience sing-along. Bobby’s in it to win it when he sticks around for the guilty pleasure “No One Else On Earth,” a big cheesy solo Wynonna hit. She says “Bob please tell John Mayer that I said Hi and that I know how he feels on stage with you now.” Bobby nods but retains his trademark serious non-expressive countenance. Some big fanfare from a small crowd and they’re all back out for encore. “Fast as You” is first up, a groovin’ rockabilly tinged country cover of Dwight Yoakam’s 1993 hit.
Finally it’s another show highlight as we all got to go to church for the inspirational 1989 Judds swan-song “Love Can Build A Bridge.” She belted this one out like it was the Judds last show. The crowd sings along more than ever the whole night, as Wynonna let us take full vocal reigns several times, a blissed-out look of sweet satisfaction draped her face. One more final shout out to McCombs and Weir, and a goodnight full band bow. I should’ve brought flowers to throw onstage.
Tonight’s collaborations with McCombs and Weir at times felt like a living room band practice that we somehow ended up having a front row seat for. With Weir, it took several songs for them to get in the groove but then they had a real spark once they did. A little rocky at times but forgivable and completely endearing. Just seeing Bob Weir playing on a song like “No One Else On Earth” was pretty hilarious. Could the collaborations have been better? Yes. Am I completely satisfied with the show? Yes. Would I go see Wynonna and the Big Noise again, even without the special guests? Yes, absolutely. All three artists have an Americana crossover, which is why it makes sense that this show even happened.
Cactus Moser and Wynonna married in 2012, her third marriage. Their onstage dynamic is enjoyable to watch and gave a palpable sense that they are very happy together and are living their dream- and having a blast doing it. Wynonna has certainly had her fair share of struggles, and tonight she showed that she is indeed triumphant in her life. Half sold show at the Fillmore? She could probably care less. She’s doing what she does and does it damn well, on her own terms and with an attitude of gratitude. I don’t think she would change a thing.
