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04.01.02 Let’s play God for a second, shall we? First, take the best parts of Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello and Seal. Next, add a little more heart, a little more soul. Throw in a killer sense of humor and a flair for storytelling. Okay, mix that up and hit the switch. Congratulations, Dr. Frankenstein, you’ve just created Jeffrey Gaines. Always a bridesmaid but never a bride, Mr. Gaines should be more famous than he is. It’s as simple as that. Singing heartfelt songs with lyrics we can all relate to, Gaines’ performances are so personal that you almost feel as if you’re watching him in the comfort of your living room; an old friend come to visit who just picks up the guitar sitting in the back of your closet and begins to play. The first thing you notice at a Jeffrey Gaines show is how much grittier his voice sounds live, how soulful and passionate the quality of it is. The second thing you notice is how much like a recital it is. In a crowded club, it is an amazing thing to look around and see not a single audience member having a side conversation. Gaines connects with his audience, and they with him, and not a person in the place has their attention elsewhere. In consideration of the size of the venues he typically plays in, I wondered how his show would translate to a larger audience. So I asked him. "The same feeling that anybody feels at a small show you can feel from me from a very big one and it’s like everybody, people out on the lawn or in the back field there with their blankets are just going, ‘It was like I was hangin’ out with that guy for 45 minutes.’" And that’s what makes Jeffrey Gaines special. More than good songs and good music is his innate ability to make you comfortable with him, that rare quality that makes you feel as if you’ve known him for years. With a quality label behind him (Artemis), he’s already working on a followup to the 2001 release "Always Be," a far cry from the 3-4 years he’s usually taken between albums. Currently "writing and demoing," Jeffrey will continue to pick up a local date here and there, "pretty much east coast, close to home, keep it real, keep the chops, try out some new songs." If you get the opportunity to check out Jeffrey "keeping his chops," take it. It'll be like visiting with an old friend... |
