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Gonzalo Silva
Gonzalo Silva
November 26, 2005 @ Club Passim
Having reemerged from the subway tunnels, Boston-bred (by way of Berklee)
busker Gonzalo Silva wowed a sold out Club Passim with his four-string
serenades. After a short introductory set by long-time sideman Noah
Maltsberger - who offered a random run of reverberant riffs, including a
tricky take on “Autumn Leaves” – Silva ambled onstage to begin what
would be a casual, provocative, and impressive improvisational set. The
opening track from his latest CD (appropriately entitled “Busker”) –
“Take Me to the Sun” – sparkled in Silva’s sharp eyes, and as he laid
his husky head voice over such other original compositions as the
outcast celebration “Gotta Give It Up” and the multi-generational anthem
“Abundant Lack of Motivation,” his fingers fell about the frets in
slightly syncopated explorations. While “Laid” danced along a number of
lyrical lines, “Despiertate” presented a beautiful bilingual blues
broken by extended arpeggios and “Can’t Go” offered even more energetic
angles. The barred chords and exposed whispers of “Vulnerable” were
followed by the peppier pacings of “Favorite Waitress.” In between his
songs, Silva chatted with the crowd, sharing his views on the media and
the life of the professional artist. After presenting his sole cover, an
original and fresh take on The Police’s “So Lonely” (complete with a
slappy island rhythm coda), Silva whet appetites with a preview of his
forthcoming album by way of the spiritual “Rescue Me”. With no train to
break his stride or to overpower his thoughtful lyrics, Silva gave
everything he could, rolling along late into the night. When the ride
was over, there was no screeching of brakes, but the roar of the crowd
was nearly as loud.
- Matthew S. Robinson
© 2005 M. S. Robinson, ARR
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