www.musicconnection.com

LIVE REVIEWS
The Field Effect
Brighton Music Hall
Allston, MA
Contact: booking@thefieldeffectmusic.com,
info@thefieldeffectmusic.com
Web: thefieldeffectmusic.com
The Players: Doug Orey, vocals, guitar; Nick
Grieco, guitar; Annie Hoffman, bass; Adam J.
Hand, drums.
Username: The field effect
Material: Honest, energetic emotion is the ideal
descriptor for this hyped-up alt-rock quartet.
Prancing bassist Annie Hoffman throws down
plucky bass lines as singer Doug Orey blurts out
plaintive wails between choruses. Meanwhile,
guitarist Nick Greico and drummer Adam Hand
admirably complete the sonic bouillabaisse.
Imagine the energy of MC5 fused with a college
rock sensibility born out of undiluted artistic
abandon.
Musicianship: With their Berklee College of
Music pedigree, the band’s abilities shouldn’t
be underestimated. What animates their sound,
though, is an emotive sensibility that transcends
note placement.
Carmel Liburdi
Goldfish Tea
Royal Oak, MI
Contact: Carmel Liburdi, 313-622-8289,
carmelliburdi@gmail.com
Web: http://carmelliburdi.bigcartel.com
The Players: Carmel Liburdi, acoustic guitar,
vocals, piano.
Username: carmel liburdi
Material: Carmel Liburdi is a rising young musical
poet from the Detroit area who has a delightful and
positively disarming approach to songwriting. The
term “poet” is most apt because her use of clever
wordplay and colorful imagery make her words
come alive and have real staying power with
her audience. The mostly original set consists of
songs like the darkly comic “Love that Kills,” which
depicts obsessive love from the perspective of a
serial killer. There’s also “Cutthroat Casey,” with
a sassy and bluesy Carole King meets Jerry
Garcia vibe. And let’s not forget the beautiful and
cautionary “Mia Culpa,” where Liburdi takes on
first-person status in a heartfelt plea for standing
behind one’s own convictions.
Musicianship: The raven-haired singer-songwriter
is equally adept on vocals, guitar and
piano. And she employs all three in a manner
that really serve the song. As a vocalist, Liburdi
has an expressiveness and verve that perfectly
suits the storytelling and cabaret-type aspects
of her characters and subject matter. Her guitar
technique is somewhat perfunctory but assured.
Most importantly, it supports the intentions of
the material. When she switches to piano for
the latter part of the set, more of those cabaret
and Tin Pan Alley dalliances emerge. There is
The Field Effect: The energy of MC5 fused with a college rock sensibility.
Performance: For the show commemorating the
release of their first full-length album, the band hit
the stage in corny Christmas garb, their sense of
humor readily apparent. But it was the undiluted
joy in their craft that electrified the room. Although
most of their 45-minute set was packed with
emotive originals, a sparkling cover of Wham!’s
“Last Christmas (I Gave You My Heart)” was what
brought home the holiday cheer.
Sadly, that feeling of musicianship was irreparably
dulled for the first two songs, which were
plagued by a mammoth feedback problem. Later,
a finicky guitar cable interrupted their flow. The
mix never felt right, with Orey’s vocals often
sinking under the group’s sonic weight.
Summary: If a love of music were the sole
element in crafting a great artist, the Field Effect
would be world famous. Music, however, is about
Carmel Liburdi: Singer-songwriter with multi-textured and idiosyncratic tunes.
a certain whimsical and cinematic charm to her
chord phrasing and arpeggios that add something
unique.
Performance: The earlier reference to delightful
and disarming not only apply to Liburdi’s songs
but also her stage presence and connection with
the audience. She was truly in her element and
at key points addressed the people in a warm
and welcoming manner. The setting of the Asianthemed
tea room really supported her delivery and
demeanor nicely, with soft lighting and a tranquil
ambience. On many occasions the diverse crowd
responded to her well-scripted tales, with copious
the artists’ connection with their audience and,
despite embodying considerable skill, the band
only made it halfway. Technical problems erected
an insurmountable wall that vastly impeded
access to their musical vision. Regardless, their
plucky eagerness and uninhibited sense of fun
mustn’t be ignored. One can easily imagine the
bliss that awaits listeners on the group’s better
nights.
––Andy Kaufmann
amounts of laughter and pensive amusement. By
the end of the evening the engaging chanteuse
even had the audience join in on a sing-a-long.
Summary: Liburdi is a young singer-songwriter
who has a bright and brilliant future ahead of her.
Her songs are multi-textured and idiosyncratic—
much like, I suspect, the artist herself. And she
has a real gift for connecting with a crowd in a
very loving and interactive way. Judging from the
rapturous applause and expressions on the faces
of those in attendance, that circle of admiration
was complete.
——Eric A. Harabadian
ERIC HARABADIAN ANDY KAUFMANN
February 2013 www.musicconnection.com 57