Live and Local - Stable Shakers

I love the standards. There’s a reason they call them that… they are the songs that set the “standard” for popular music. They matter. Whether it’s “you Turned the tables on me”, or “My way”, or “Lady is a tramp”. They’re part of our collective understanding of music. Even if you don’t know the songs themselves, you know dozens of songs that borrow from them. And just like when you see a band, you sometimes like to hear them cover a song you know. It gives you a way to sort of guage what you’re listening to. The standards are like the measuring stick for that. They’re drifting out of the normal rotation for live music of late, and I think that’s a shame.

I mention that to tell you this…

I haven’t yet gotten the hang of finding out who is playing at Sign of the Buck on Monday nights. I know they advertise, but so often, unless I happen to catch it on my feed in Facebook on the same day, I never seem to know who’s playing. As a result, often times I wander in, get my pilsner draft, and am surprised to see who’s up there.

It’s usually a good surprise. A few times, it’s been Ben Wenk doing a solo set which, if you haven’t experienced it, you should seek it out. He’s the lead vocalist and guitarist for Chuck Darwin & the Knuckledraggers, and he also often pays with Billy Jones (you’ll hear him referred to often as “Cuz” by the locals). Both are a great night if you catch them…but there’s something comfortable and fun about seeing Ben just up there by himself working that guitar like it’s a water pump, and bringing up a superhuman breadth of musical knowledge as well as doing truly great originals.

So, finding Ben playing without knowing about it is always a win. I don’t mean to speak for him, but I’m willing to bet he agrees with me about the standards.

Again, I told you that  to tell you this … last week, for the second time, I walked in, unaware, ordered by pilsner, and looked up to see Stable Shakers.

Stable Shakers is a duo. Brechyn Chase is the vocalist, and Spencer Pheil plays guitar, typically some iteration of a Telecaster (greatest invention of the 20th century). Both of them have tremendous instruments, and know how to use them.

So much so, in fact, that both times I happened upon them playing, I was prompted to post it on facebook (“Shaker Alert!! High you ass over to the Buck, stat!”), which is not normal behavior for your humble narrator.

They play a lot of standards, and not only does Brechyn handle them well, she’s clearly swimming in her own pool with some of the most challenging vocal pieces. Not only is she comfortable and prepared, but her singing isn’t just competent… she means what she’s doing and the passion and pure creativity she imbues to the songs are something you are lucky to ever see live. She manages these song in real time better than most modern singers do in the studio.

Whether it’s Peggy Lee’s “He’s a Tramp”, or a Cranberries tune, she brings an effortless range and comfort. She’s not just technically good…she likes this song and enjoys singing it for you and that comes right out. It’s infectious, and I’m always gratified when I hear anyone handle the standards with love. I guess that makes me old, but I don’t care.

Sitting next to Brechyn is her accompanist, guitarist Spencer Phiel. I must admit, since I’m a dork, the first thing I noticed about Spencer was the gorgeous Suhre Telecaster he was playing. Once I got over that, and heard what he was doing, it was equally amazing.

I could just come up with adjectives about what an accomplished and talented guitarist he is, but I’m sure you already get that. Let’s dispense with saying, the guy is a consummate pro, could probably play anything you threw at him with embellishments and swing at the drop of a hat. And that’s not nothing… but what stands out for me is the way he does what I said earlier… he accompanies his incredible singer with a creative and artful touch that reminds you of people like Larry Carlton or Bucky Pizzarelli. If you’re a jazz or rock vocalist and want to showcase your vocals with all-time gorgeous music, I can’t think of someone you’d rather have sitting there with a telecaster.

It's a truism that most guitarists that are great accompanists (and that is a rare and vanishing skill itself), aren’t also tremendous soloists. Spencer has one or two originals he does every set, instrumentals, and show a virtuosity that you really have to experience. He knows about his instruments, is gracious at letting me nerd out about the pickups, etc…and he plays it like the person who handcrafted that instrument intended.

I joked in a previous review of Hopeless Semantics that Linda Null plays a guitar that’s worth more than my pickup truck, and that it very much belonged in her hands. Spencer plays telecasters that are works of art, and that’s exactly what should be in his hands.

Stable Shakers has released some albums available where all such things are available, they also have done some Grateful dead covers with a full band, which I’m looking forward to checking out and will write about soon as I do. Meanwhile, if you get to catch them at the Buck or otherwise, or if you get a “shaker alert” from me on FB, high your ass out and catch them. Spenser also plays guitar in Sons of Pitches, which im looking forward to catching ASAP, as should you.