Jim's Big Ego at Second Friday Coffee House, 11-8-19 Concert Review

Jim's Big Ego performing "International"

It is always a treat when Jim's Big Ego puts on a show. And on November 8th, folks were treated to a double dose of Jim Infantino. On Thursday, November 7th, Jim posted on Facebook that Hannah Siglin, the scheduled opening act, was no longer able to make it, so he'd be opening for himself. Solo Jim opening for Jim's band. This was great news for people like me, who are always wanting more Jim. The venue itself is a church auditorium where they were about to open a production of Newsies, and in fact that production's set was already up, hidden behind the thick burgundy curtain that separated the set from the band. The place had a really good vibe to it, most of the audience seated at tables, with a couple of rows of chairs at the back, close to the merchandise and concession tables. Fellow End Construction member Jon Svetkey runs the concert series there, and there was some talk of Jon performing at least one song with Jim. Well, not so much talk as a request by fans online. Of course, we knew whatever songs were played, the concert was going to be a good time.

Jim's Big Ego did a rather lengthy soundcheck, which ended up being almost a set in itself, and included several songs that were then not performed during the actual show, including a Tom Waits cover. The audience started entering during that song, as it was then 7 p.m., leading Jim to say, "We should do covers now, don't want to give anything away." But they actually followed that with "Hate Street," a song they would end up choosing to close the show. I noticed that it was an older crowd, but then remembered that I'm older now too. So I suppose I was among my own people. When did this happen? Who was responsible? Inquiries will be made, rest assured.

At 7:45 p.m., Jon Svetkey introduced opening act Jim Infantino. Jim then joked, "They only gave me five songs for the opener, so I'm going to choose wisely." He began his set with "Red Motorcycle," a song he wrote with his daughter, then followed it with a song from the early days, "Trust This Face." Thirty years have passed since the first time I saw him perform this one, and the song still makes me laugh. A good deal of the song's enjoyment comes from watching Jim's facial expressions. This song featured a bit of audience participation at the end. That was followed by "Always Thus," with lyrics about a king not deserving to wear the crown. I could guess the name of the person most folks were thinking of while he played it. So the audience burst out laughing when afterward Jim said, "Thank you, that was a song about King Friday." Jim then played "Everybody Gets The Blues," the song that was requested online, the song which during the End Construction days featured a wonderful four-part vocal section. At this show this song featured a soft, gentle, almost delicate delivery. But Jon Svetkey did not join him. Jim then wrapped up his opening set with "Prince Charming," first telling the crowd, "I'm working on a cassette," which once again brought us back to those early days when his releases were available only on tape. The first set ended at 8:14 p.m.

After one of the shortest set breaks I've ever experienced (eight minutes), Jon Svetkey returned to the stage to introduce Jim's Big Ego. Jim then, playing up the opening act angle one more time, said, "Let's hear it for Jim Infantino," adding that the guy was showing some promise. He also, before starting the set's first song, mentioned the stack of napkins on stage. Those were then passed out to the audience as he explained the game for "Napkin Poetry." "If you have a thought, write it down," he said. He also introduced his band, which includes Josh Kantor on keys, Jesse Flack on bass, and Dan Cantor on percussion. Red Sox fans will recognize Josh Kantor as the organist at Fenway. Then the band kicked off the set with "Background Vocals," a song from their 2008 album Free. They followed that with that album's title track, "Free (And On Our Own)," a tune with a sweeter vibe. "I'm lonely but I'm not alone." This version featured some nice stuff on keys. After "The Ballad Of Barry Allen," a song from They're Everywhere, Jim asked that people start passing the napkins toward the stage. Soon there was a hefty stack of thoughts for Jim to sift through and sing. But first he played "In My Cult," the lead-off track from Stay, which was released in 2012. He lost his place for a moment during that song, and someone in the audience shouting something out to him. "Do you know the lyrics?" Jim asked the person. The guy did not, apparently. Jesse Flack used a bow on "In My Cult." After it, Josh told the audience, "We wrote that song to play at Jim's church." He added that he thought they had now outdone themselves by playing it another church that benefits a third church. The concert series at Second Friday Coffee House raises money for various charities each year, and the funds raised at this show were set to benefit another church. "In My Cult" was followed by "Everything Must Go," a song whose joyful vibe always surprises me. After all, this is the one that includes the line, "Yeah, we're all going to die, and we don't know when."

Jim gathered all the napkins from the stage, and the band developed a seriously cool groove while Jim put the napkins in some sort of order. Then, when everything was just right, he began to sing the phrases and lines he found on each napkin, and so the band and audience created a song together. It is interesting to me how themes do emerge from this process, that it doesn't feel entirely random. Partly that is because there are certain notions plaguing our collective consciousness, and so, yes, several of the lines at this show referred to the scoundrel currently occupying the White House and the hope for his impeachment and removal. And partly this is because Jim chooses certain lines to return to throughout the song. And actually, the other band members will latch onto certain phrases and echo them when it seems right. It is a remarkably satisfying experience, as it brings the audience together. And it might surprise you to learn that the song that emerges is quite good. As the song progressed, Jim would let the napkins fall to the stage, and so afterward he said: "The set list is completely covered. I don't know what we're playing." What they chose to play next was "Big Old Dark Green Car," a song from the early days that was revisited on Stay.

Jim's Big Ego has certain songs that always please the crowd, and they followed "Big Old Dark Green Car" with a couple of them. "She's Dead" was the first, and Josh provided some delightful moments on keys that made me laugh. The second was "Stress," which now had a bit of funk to its rhythm. My friend Margot was particularly excited to hear "Stress." Jim then mentioned he wasn't sure how much time he had left in the set, and mused that at some point people will start leaving. "That will be the hint," he said. "But I won't take it." The band then played "The World Of Particulars," which apparently had not been performed by the full band before. It was followed by a really nice rendition of "Los Angeles." Jim read a few sentences from his novel, The Wakeful Wanderer's Guide To New New England & Beyond, while the band provided a little jazzy backing music. "That's how I want to do the whole audio book," he said afterward. The band then went into "You're Delicious," the wonderful zombie love song. Why hasn't The Walking Dead used this song yet? That would certainly help the show avoid getting too stale. Jim's Big Ego wrapped up the set with a rousing rendition of "International" and a reprise of "She's Dead." The encore was "Hate Street." The show ended at 9:46 p.m.

Soundcheck

1. The World Of Particulars
2. Everything Must Go
3. Smells Like Teen Spirit/Kumbaya
4. Slow
5. Way Down In The Hole
6. Hate Street

Set I

1. Red Motorcycle
2. Trust This Face
3. Always Thus
4. Everybody Gets The Blues
5. Prince Charming

Set II

1. Background Vocals
2. Free (And On Our Own)
3. The Ballad Of Barry Allen
4. In My Cult
5. Everything Must Go
6. Napkin Poetry
7. Big Old Dark Green Car
8. She's Dead
9. Stress
10. The World Of Particulars
11. Los Angeles
12. You're Delicious
13. International
14. She's Dead (Reprise)

Encore

1. Hate Street

Here are a few photos from the show:

soundcheck: "The World Of Particulars"

"Red Motorcycle"

"Trust This Face"

"Background Vocals"

"The Ballad Of Barry Allen"

"In My Cult"

 

"Napkin Poetry"

Second Friday Coffee House is located at 404 Concord Ave. in Belmont, Massachusetts.