Top 5 moments from the Tom Petty tribute show by Start Making Sense
It’s been nearly a year since we’ve seen Bethlehem’s ArtsQuest Center filled with music, crowds and dancing.
On Friday night, Lehigh Valley band Start Making Sense delivered the music and a sellout crowd. Unfortunately, the dancing will have to wait a while — at least until everyone gets a couple of shots in the arm. So sayeth ArtsQuest’s smart social distancing rules.
The Musikfest Cafe show started softly and sweetly, as the opening guitar chords warmly welcomed the 150-plus fans spread out in the cabaret. All (except for the musicians onstage) were masked up, seated at tables of two and four, and separated by 6 feet or more. Attendance was limited due to COVID-19 safety protocols.
The opening stanza signaled the revival of live/in-person concerts, and perhaps more importantly, a return to something kinda normal and desperately needed.
These beautiful lyrics followed: “You belong among the wildflowers / You belong somewhere close to me / Far away from your trouble and worries / You belong somewhere you feel free.”
The words of hope and promise set the tone for the evening’s musical tribute to the late Tom Petty and the rock legend’s three-time platinum “Wildflowers” album of 1994 — which was played in its entirety.
The four-piece band featuring Jon Braun (lead vocals/ guitar), Jesse Braun (guitars/ bass/vocals), Jenny Founds (piano/vocals), and Duane
Beller (guitar/vocals) kicked off their ArtsQuest residency with this very special inaugural concert. It’s the first in a series of four performances the group has planned for the Bethlehem listening room.
Start Making Sense & Friends will follow this gig with a series of shows. The next will showcase Jane’s Addiction’s “Nothing Shocking” and “Ritual de lo Habitual” on Feb 12. Braun and Co. will return with a three-piece Ruby Dear rock project on Feb. 19. The group will then reassemble on March 5 with a Talking Heads tribute.
The program started as warm house lights revealed the sharp staging and an intimate, living room vibe. The band settled into the loungy space, complete with red velvet curtains, comfy couches, easy chairs and softglow floor lamps — much like a classic MTV “Unplugged” scene. This was an ideal arrangement for the acoustic encounter. It was as if we were crashing the quartet’s private rehearsal session.
Here are my Top 5 moments from Friday’s show:
1. “You Wreck Me” rocked! The band found their sweet spot early on with “You Wreck Me” and its up-tempo grind which moved the energized crowd to sway, tap and clap along. Oh, these folks sooooo wanted to get up and dance to this one, but rules are rules. Lead singer Jon Braun and Co. leaned into their fretboards and heated things up while the cool chorus of harmonies worked it out. This one was a real crowd-pleaser. “If it’s not obvious by now, this man [Petty] could really write a song,” Braun declared. “A whole bunch of them, actually.”
2.) The delicate sound of “Only A Broken Heart”
This song resembles something John Lennon might have written. Braun nailed Petty’s heartfelt lyrics and vocal stylings with a delicate, considerate touch. The vulnerable lover’s message included the line, “What would I give to start all over again/To clean up my mistakes.” Braun’s bittersweet interpretation delivered exactly what the melody deserved. The song’s swirling sounds captivated from start to finish. This was perhaps the best performance of the night as a drifting fingertip guitar solo by Beller added just the right touch to the piece.
3.) Honey Bee
In keeping with the album, Braun (almost inaudibly) whispered, “Here’s a little number we call ‘Gimme Some Sugar, Little Honey Natural Bee.’ ” Then ripped into the rowdy guitar intro and a series of stinging, fuzzy guitar flights. The number grew stronger as it soared to the chorus. On this track, Braun turned loose on his vocals as the five-string trio of Duane, Jon and Jesse rollicked with inspired, plugged-in energy.
4.) “Friendly” company
The group segued into “To Find A Friend” with a folksy, playful lilt. There was no banjo on stage, but it sure sounded like the pluckings of bluegrass steel and strings. This tune warmly breezed in like the budding of spring and Founds’ piano tickles fell like tiny raindrops. Threepart harmony framed the song nicely and encouraged on a roomful of smiles. “How cool is it to be outside your house?” Founds mused, as the crowd clapped and cheered.
5.) Finishing touches and “Wake Up Time”
Before rounding out the show with a second set of fitting acoustic Petty deep tracks and hits including the wryly humorous “Girl on LSD” and a tidy version of “Runnin’ Down the Dream,” SMS wrapped up the “Wildflowers” LP with “Wake Up Time” — the final cut of the album. The performance was yet another smooth takeoff and soft landing for the band as they wrapped up the session with note-perfect tenderness and sincere feeling.
As the song says, “Time to open your eyes/and rise and shine.” Not a bad idea for those hibernating through a long week of snow and slush as we anxiously await some sunshine and winter’s thaw.
“Now … I’m a little teary-eyed,” Braun admitted following the emotional number.
On this special night of live music in Bethlehem, he wasn’t alone.
Next up for Start Making Sense is a Jane’s Addiction tribute 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Musikfest Cafe. Table reservations: $20-$40 Tickets and info available at www.steelstacks.org or www. facebook.com/SteelStacks
Morning Call Sports & Entertainment Editor Craig Larimer can be reached at 610-778-7993 or at clarimer@mcall.com