The Greg and Jim (and Cathy and Jim) Band at Duende

 

   In some ways, Thursday, August 11, 2022, could be called a virtually perfect day. The weather was a wonderful sunny 75-78 degrees, there was a bit of a breeze and the Greg and Jim Band performed two sets of original roots rock, Americana and country and western to a large, appreciative crowd at Duende at Silo City.

     The pretty much all-star band of Greg Klyma on guitar and vocals, Jim Whitford on bass and vocals, Cathy Carfagna on keyboard, accordion and vocals and Jim Celeste on drums and vocals performed songs from Klyma’s various solo recordings and from Whitford’s songbook from the Pine Dogs and solo work. Whitford has played on several of Klyma’s recordings and Klyma was a member of the Red Liners, basically the last invocation of the Pine Dogs; Celeste is the original/sole Pine Dogs drummer and Carfagna and Whitford have performed together in several bands and setups.

     The band performed some great Pine Dog tunes including “Everybody Looks So Down,” “Whiskey Voice,” “Moving Pictures” and “Good Luck, Money and Gasoline,” as well as Whitford’s solo songs “Mr. Money Man” and “Crash All Night.” Among the notable Klyma songs were “Still No Silver Linin’,” “Jane,” “Kristofferson” and “Davidson County Beauty Queen.” Throughout the two sets, the musicians played well off each other, with no one trying to steal or overstay their welcomes in the limelight, a testament to both the quality of musicianship onstage plus the experience both in general and playing together live and in the studio. Solos were never too long, no preening was on display and the musicians showed honest appreciation of each other’s talents, occasionally injecting some humor. The audience enjoyed the band, danced along and even sang at times, and Duende’s laid back setting and atmosphere/vibe gave the show and evening a fine groove. (Also, not paying $100 or more for tickets and no charge for parking helped.)

     Finally, if you haven’t caught these musicians either solo or with their respective bands, do yourself a favor and do so, and the same for anyone who hasn’t had the chance to catch a show at Duende. Besides a rather extensive beer/wine list, they have a pretty decent appetizer, sandwich and dinner menu.