What better way to spend a Friday evening then seeing a band perform in a living room? Club 603 in Baltimore hosted an amazing performance by David Wax Museum, and the duo delivered an intimate showcase of mostly new material for a small gathering of fans. David Wax and Suz Slezak expressed that they had just celebrated their 12th year as a band and were excited to share some new music.
I had the pleasure of seeing David Wax Museum perform at Newport Folk Festival. I enjoy the Mexican folk music influence in many of their songs. Therefore, they became an instant favorite. Suz Slezak provides a creative touch by playing the quijada. This Latin American instrument is made from the jawbone of a horse or cow. In addition to the quijada, Slezak plays a variety of instruments which enhances the cultural flavor in their music. Their third song of the evening, “El Ahualulco” off of their 2016 release A La Rumba Rumba, was a perfect example of their cultural influences. Wax remarked how they could produce songs that all sounded the same but that this was much more fun!
Slezak and Wax were both very interactive with the audience. Slezak shared with us how a mishap with her boots helped to enhance the bass and treble in her foot-tapping rhythm section. Wax admitted to having a severe allergy to cats, and how he made all attempts to avoid the house cat during his visit. They also shared with us some insight into tuning and the variety of musical instruments used in their songs.
In addition to several new songs that will be featured on an upcoming album, the duo performed some classics such as Yes, Maria, Yes! which they turned into a competitive sing along with the small audience. Despite the limited space, Wax got everyone up on their feet singing out “Yes, Maria, Yes… No, Maria, No” in unison throughout the song!
One of the most beautiful moments in the performance was when the couple shared with us their version of “If I Had the World to Give” by the Grateful Dead. They delivered the song passionately with only a violin and guitar to accompany their harmonizing voices.
The evening concluded with the single, “Guesthouse” from their 2015 release of the same name. Although the evening contained some quiet moments, this song provided a fun and energetic way to call it a night! Enjoy some photos below that capture the beauty of this evening’s performance! (All photos copyright and courtesy of Shantel Breen/These Subtle Sounds.)
