Gurf Morlix to Perform at Pausa Art House May 1

     Western New York native singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and Austin and Buffalo Music Hall of fame member Gurf Morlix will perform a solo evening of music at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth Street, Buffalo.

Photo of Gurf Morlix by Val Dunne/Barkloud Productions

     Tickets are $15 at the door or $16 online at www.pausaarthouse.com/gurf-morlix-51.html, and according to the Pausa Facebook page at 10 a.m. Wednesday, “just a few more reserved seating spots with advanced tickets” remain. Along with his solo work, Morlix is best known as the guitarist, arranger and producer of Lucinda Williams’ best work, her self-titled album and “Sweet Old World,” and partially “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.”

     Morlix’s most recent album is “Finds the Present Tense” (Rootball Records), and the electric full-band sound is utilized extensively and with excellent results, while some of his more acoustic/solo approach remains. Even the full band sounds of standout songs such as “Lookin’ for You,” “Bang Bang Bang” and “Present Tense” are compact and not overdone. “These Are My Blues” may be the meanest, dirtiest, gut-wrenching blues he has ever recorded, and demands repeated listening.

     Of course, this shouldn’t hide Morlix’s more personal side, even when another species seems less than approving. At about 1:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, after the NBA playoff games had ended, I let our dog Harold out for a final backyard visit before going to bed. Morlix, who often stays next door at the house of our neighbor, Buffalo Music Hall of Fame guitarist, singer, songwriter and Morlix childhood friend and bandmate Jim Whitford (the Pine Dogs, Twang Gang, Canal Street String Band), was outside with their dog, Nuala.

     While the dogs peed, howled and whined a bit, Morlix and I talked about a bunch of things, including how Gurf and Nuala were adjusting to each other. “I don’t think she likes my singing or guitar playing; I sat down in the room she was sleeping in and started to sing one of my songs, and she looked at me, got up and left. I later carried my guitar into the room she was in, and she took one look and got up and walked away again.” A moment later, Nuala, a vizsla/red coon hound blend, howled as she usually does; she basically never barks, just howls, which, as dog people ourselves, is no bother to Val or me. “She only howls one note,” Morlix said with a smile, and as Nuala howled again, he added, “See? The same note, a B.”

            Go see what Nuala was howling about Thursday night.