On my way to see Matt Meyer and the Gumption Junction play at Blue, I made sure to get there on time. For me, walking into a full house at Blue, while the band is playing, brings back bad memories of middle-school insecurity, like entering a classroom late and everyone stares at you. But the turnout was low, which said nothing about the talent and ability of the band, and actually made the experience more fun — "take off your shirt" heckles, bad puns, lots of laughs and smiles between songs.
Meyer, the lead singer/frontman, used a music stand for the band's opening set of original tunes, which surprised me. Maybe it was the attendance, but it seemed like the band lacked confidence in the first half. In the second half, though, the music filled the room in a way it had not before, and it was much more engaging. They played a range of Appalachian traditionals and banjo-fronted bluegrass, but the highlights of the night were definitely the sea shanties. For Halloween next year, I hear they'll play out as Burlesquey Martin and Wood.
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New England Music News
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