Concert review: Sundown, Balsam Inn, East Pharsalia, NY, Sat., Aug. 22, 2009
By Rachel Heisler
Sundown
Not all good bands reside in NYC, L.A. or Seattle. Some, like Sundown, are doing their thing in some of the smallest towns in the country. Unless you’re actually from Norwich, East Pharsalia or Greene, it’s unlikely you’ve ever heard of the cow towns of Upstate NY. But if you are familiar with these quaint little towns, it’s possible you have run across Sundown at a local bar somewhere along the way.
Noone passing the members of Sundown on the street would guess that they were in a band. They don’t put on airs or fancy duds and their lips and eyebrows aren’t pierced. In fact, this is the least pretentious band I have ever run across. These are just regular folks who happen to have the spirit of music flowing through their veins. But that doesn’t mean they’re playing music on washboards and spoons. In fact, Sundown is surprisingly high-tech, using electric drums and wireless guitar trasmitters. So, just who are these music lovers when the music ends for the evening? That is a question that won’t be answered today.
“We usually don’t put our focus toward ourselves,” Lori said when asked about the personal lives herself and her bandmates. “We focus on making the music new and fresh, and keeping our friends and fans happy and excited to come out and listen, dance. Without them we would be just another band. They feed our energy with their clapping, dancing and hooting and hollering.”
And clap, dance, hoot and holler they did last night at the Balsam Inn’s bike rally. Dozens of inebrated fans crowded the dance floor, cheap beer in hand, to relish in the band’s versions of a variety of cover songs. Now, PPR doesn’t usually review cover bands, but we’re making an exception this one time, due to the fact that Sundown, frankly, is a pretty damn good band, and their fans come first attitude is impressive.
Band members Rick French (lead electric/acoustic guitar, lead/harmony vocals), Lori French (keyboard, harmonica, rhythm guitar, lead/harmony vocals, Jesse French (bass, vocals) and Rich Potter (drums, vocals) have found that they don’t need to write or perform original tunes in order to find fans. Their fans are more than happy to dance the night away to classic country songs by Johnny Cash and Jeannie Pruett, contemporary country of Gretchen Wilson and Toby Keith and classic rock by the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top. With competent instrumental playing, exceptional vocals and pleasing song selection, Sundown is a special musical treat for those people who may not have daily access to arena rock.
For more information, vistit www.myspace.com/sundown08.
Upcoming shows:
08/29/09-Honkytonk Saloon, Sherburne, NY, 9:30 p.m.
09/05/09-Balsam Inn, East Pharsalia, NY, 9:00 p.m.
09/13/09-Norwich VFW: Benefit, Norwich, NY, 1:00 p.m.
09/18/09-Nathanael Greene’s Publick House, Greene, NY, 9:00 p.m.
10/03/09-Balsam Inn, East Pharsalia, NY, 9:00 p.m.
10/24/09-Honkytonk Saloon, Sherburne, NY, 9:30 p.m.
I enjoyed reading the aricle that recognized the exceptional talents of the band Sundown. Over the past couple years, I have had the pleasure of not only listening to their music, but getting to know the members, especially Lori, as well. This musical group focuses on what the public wants to hear and works exceptionally hard to achieve that. It is their music that enables one to intensely feel the beat, the innermost emotions and “to dance as if no is watching.”
Comment by Teri Griswold — August 23, 2009 @ 7:53 pm
sundown is the best band i have heard for a local band. we have listened to many bands over the years and they sing the songs clsest to the original music. keep up the good work sundown- woo hoo!!!!!
Comment by betty — August 25, 2009 @ 2:36 am