I’ve listened to local flutes-and-funk trio Peace Jones on disc and on their MySpace site, but I’ve never heard a live show. That was until this past Friday (Mar. 2) at Hannah Flanagan’s.
It was a chilly evening—the right circumstances to pass an hour or two in packed bar down town. And Hannah Flanagan’s is an experience anyway, in it’s very unAsheville atmosphere. It’s dark, it’s sports-bar-like, it’s smoky. It could almost be a neighborhood pub in Dublin—probably what the owners are going for.
I managed to grab a seat and a glass of Merlot (the bartender looked at me like I’d sprouted a second head when I ordered Malbec) before the show started. Front man Paul DeCirce (a.k.a “Drum”) launched right in to “Stop that Train,” a Bob Marley chestnut perfect for the Peace Jones mission of slipping heavier messages in between the grooves and beats. The set continued with a nice mix of originals and lesser-known covers that seemed to suit the crowd. The instrumentation was tight, the songs were well-rehearsed and DeCirce—especially considering he’s self-taught—skillfully finesses the flute, harmonica and guitar.
My only criticism is that, at times, the vocals were over the top and didn’t serve the songs well. DeCirce isn’t a born singer, but then again, neither are many major vocalists (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams). That being the case, I’d prefer that he either keep it simple, lyrically, and put his effort into the instruments, or else share vocal duties with another singer—perhaps a woman. Still, Peace Jones is one of the best bar bands I’ve caught in a while. They know how to please a crowd, how to make Friday feel like a party, and how to keep a set moving with upbeat song selections. Good show—definitely worth checking out.
I’m not sure how well “message” artists will go over at Hannah Flanagan’s. Maybe they should just stick to covers of “Brown Eyed Girl”.