The Carolina Chocolate Drops L to r: Hubby Jenkins, Rhiannon Giddens, Rowan Corbett and Malcolm Parson (photo by Michael Wilson) |
Tiler Peck (photo courtesy of the artist) |
Robert Fairchild (photo courtesy of the artist) |
From Tharp's Cornbread Duet (photo by Rahav Segev) |
Certainly, the Drops warmly welcome you, too, with a set list ranging across revival church music, some soul-seeking Odetta blues, Joe Thompson fiddle tunes, Hank Williams's "Please Don't Let Me Love You"--this last delivered with Giddens's near-yodeling voice bending notes before kicking everything into high, trotting speed. Fan faves like "Country Girl" (written by Giddens and her sister) and the countrified version of Blu Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style" were given fresh, full-on performances. The only problem was that Giddens got to slip off her shoes and stomp and twirl, while the audience had to sit still watching from the theater's "Line 'Em Up Sardine Style" rows.
As Giddens noted, with typical generosity, two former members of the band have split off into solo careers--the charismatic Don Flemons, a founding member, and cellist Leyla McCalla, who appeared with the band on tour and on their Grammy-nominated Leaving Eden (2012). Flemons and McCalla are out there doing their thing and spreading the goodness, and if you miss them, you can support their new moves by checking up on Flemons here and McCalla here.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for Giddens's own solo album, which she's working on for the band's label, Nonesuch Records.
For more Spring events at BAM, click here.
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