For more than 10 years, the David Wax Museum, fronted by David Wax and Suz Slezak, have been dishing generous servings of Americana, Southwestern and Mexican folk music, and even some electronic gadgetry for good measure. And their instrumentation is as varied as their influences, as Suz plays violin, accordion, and at times a donkey’s jawbone (quijada), while David – in addition to guitar – performs using a jarana jarocha, a small hand strummed instrument that resembles a tenor or baritone ukulele. Although I had only seen them as a duo in the past, for their tour which kicked off at the Creative Alliance Wednesday night included drummer, Danilo Henriquez, Sam Dechenne on trumpet, Ben Kogan on bass, and a surprise guest Anthony DaCosta who opened the evening with a wonderful solo set on guitar.
Celebrating the release of their new album, Line of Light, the band opened their seven-date tour at Baltimore’s Creative Alliance. I had the great fortune to see David and Suz perform there a couple of years ago but that seemed like a lifetime ago – not only in terms of where this band find themselves with a new album but in how this album came about and the societal and political changes that affected it in so many ways.
The first track off the album, “Uncover the Gold,” starts off with the line ” I refuse to live in fear / Won’t give ’em what they want” – perhaps a reference to their hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia and the scene of hate two years ago when white nationalists used fear and intimidation as they marched through the town. But that spirit of not being broken by hate and fear is strong throughout the record. Love is also a key component. Songs like “Big Sur” (David says it might be his favorite of the new album) and “Equal in the Darkness” express the sentiments of love (“Is my love strong enough to get you through?”) and how much more similar we are than our differences (“Or you can choose blindness / Out of love or out of fear / Mindful or mindless / Either way, you might disappear”).
After a great set by singer-songwriter, Anthony DaCosta, David, Suz, and the band took the stage. One of the great things, by the way, of having their tour opener at the Creative Alliance is the sense you get there of a community or family vibe. During the set, there was even an artist, Jani Hileman, who was sculpting busts of the performers (going for 500 sculptures by the year’s end!) and right outside the doors in the hallway there were art exhibits.
Starting off the evening with “How Do You Know If You’re Dreaming?” from the new record, Suz remarked that there’s a thread running through David Wax Museum songs that deal with dream and dreaming.
Touching on several of their releases, the band played a lot of my personal favorites, like the infectious “Yes, Maria, Yes,” “Harder Before It Gets Easier,” and “Guesthouse.” And after several songs with the band, David and Suz performed together without the band, including a beautiful cover of the Grateful Dead’s “If I Had the World to Give” before being joined again for
“Uncover the Gold,” the newest single from Line of Light.
The David Wax Museum put on an amazing show, and it’s one that warms the heart. They are currently on tour and more dates can be found here.
The set list included:
How Do You Know If You’re Dreaming?
Yes, Maria, Yes
Big Sur
The Least I Can Do
Touch of Gold
Little Heart
Wake Up and Dream
Harder Before It Gets Easier
Every Time Katie
El Ahualolco
Human Chain
Born With A Broken Heart Uncover the Gold
Refuge
Guesthouse
Equal In The Darkness
Encore:
Dark Night of the Heart
El Toro Zacamandu
Enjoy photos of David Wax Museum performing at The Creative Alliance in Baltimore on October 23. All photos copyright and courtesy of David LaMason.
