Grace Stumberg Band at ChalkFest

    Grace Stumberg, on guitar and vocals, leads her band during the first ChalkFest on the 500 block of Main Street in Buffalo August 11. She is joined by guitarist Bob James, left, and bassist Mike Petrino; not show is drummer Josh English.                      Photo by Val Dunne/Barkloud Productions

  

            (While I/The Hosey Report am/is trying to review shows in chronological order, there will be occasions where the time continuum will be deviated from, as in this post, in which I feature a photograph taken by my loving, talented wife, Valerie Dunne. Of course, I will add some, er, color. KJH)

            The Grace Stumberg Band, featuring its namesake, Grace Lynn Stumberg, on guitar and vocals, along with guitarist Bob James on guitar, Mike Petrino on bass and Josh English on drums, contributed an excellent set to the first day of ChalkFest on the 500 block of Main Street Saturday, August 11.

            While keeping things in a basic rock and roll approach, Stumberg and band included dollops of roots rock, folk rock, blues, and power pop coloring lyrics on relationships of all kinds and levels, mostly optimistic or at least hopeful in the face of adversity, and happily were quite realistic and honest, escaping any saccharine or pappy excesses. James, who may have as good a Buffalo rock and roll pedigree as anyone performing today (Restless, Jumpers, The Rain), did what he does best, supply some fine guitar leads with taste, economy and power. Stumberg’s guitar playing, mostly rhythm and counter but occasional lead, is also tasteful and a bit bluesier at times, while the Petrino/English rhythm section was right on the mark.

            I’ve caught Stumberg several times live, in settings from solo acoustic to full band, and she is adaptable as she is talented. One memory is of her playing an immigrant Thanksgiving dinner event at a former job of mine in a band also featuring bassist and Buffalo Music Hall of Famer Jim Wynne (Gamalon). Along with a enjoyable, funky set, they invited several of the immigrants to dance and sing with the band; one, an Iranian man of about 30-35, sang in very traditional, almost muezzin-style vocals, and Stumberg and Wynne led the band in wonderful accompaniment that went on for about 10 minutes, almost perfectly getting across the idea of working and creating together. It could only have been better if someone such as David Wasik could have joined in the music.

            Stumberg, who just returned from touring with Joan Baez as her personal assistant, will soon release her second CD, and I would recommend, based on what I have heard live, that you pay attention.