Singer/songwriter Josh Rouse returned to Turner Hall Ballroom – which he helped inaugurate by playing the first Pabst group show there in 2007 – on Sunday night.
Though the crowd was fairly thin – I'd estimate it at 100-125 – Rouse turned in a breezy, controlled and relatively low-key performance that spotlighted his fine songwriting, his distinctive voice and his whip-smart band.
Drawing on material from across his recorded career, Rouse performed the title track from his 1998 debut, "Dressed Up Like Nebraska"; "Comeback (Light Therapy)" and "Love Vibration" from 2003's stellar "1972"; "Why Won't You Tell Me What" and "Winter In the Hamptons" from 2005's "Nashville"; alongside a number of tunes from other records.
Of course, he paid a little extra attention to the latest disc, "The Embers of Time," playing "Time," "New Young," "Crystal Falls" and "Some Days I'm Golden All Night."
My favorite of the night – and that of much of the crowd, judging from the response – came toward the end when Rouse strummed the opening chords of the "My Love Has Gone" from "Nashville."
I could've listened to the song's rainy day melancholy and bittersweet vibe – recalling some of the '70s radio pop hits coursing out of the P.A. before the band took the stage – all night long.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention long-time Rouse sidemen – bassist James Haggerty and ace drummer Marc Pisapia – here. Their solid, never showy, groove not only anchored the songs to a strong footing, but added dynamics and and depth.
Walter Martin, of The Walkmen and Jonathan Fire*Eater fame, opened the show with a solo acoustic set drawing heavily on his latest record, "We're All Young Together," populated with songs aimed especially at youthful listeners.
But the melodic, catchy tunes – laced with humor – were appreciated by the older crowd at the show. Martin did a yeoman's job, too, considering daylight was still streaming in the window during his set and the smallish crowd sat in silence while he played, creating a vibe that didn't always feel quite like a club gig.
Finally, let's take a walk down memory lane, with a clip from Rouse's first Turner Hall performance, in 2007:
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
