The stage looked right -- more instruments than people, including an upright bass -- and so did the band (it's requisite to have at least one guy in a suit and a cowboy hat). Unfortunately the audience didn't, because there wasn't much of one there. The venue frequently has country or countryish acts drawing crowds twice as big, but not for bluegrass on a weeknight.

Bluegrass musicians don't get the credit they deserve. Other than incredible jazz, no other genre makes me as amazed at its performers technical prowess. That's what I was hoping for last night as I set out to see Chatham Co. Line. The interesting thing is that local band regularly fills the hall with their bluegrass, but they make it a spectacle, wearing overalls and setting it up as a big ol' jamboree, which is apparently more fun than seeing talented musicians do their thing.

And CCL does it well. They're not the most amazing artists you'll see, but they have good songs with tight harmonies, and they have fun on stage. They also covered Otis Redding's "Come to Me," which was very enjoyable and utterly unexpected. There was a bit too much scripted banter, but the music itself was fine. Now where are all those fake country lovin' jam band fans when they should be out for this?

Sidenotes for concert-only smokers:
1) You're not fooling us -- when you can't work your lighter and have to practice how to hold your cigarette, it's a give away.
2) You should be smoking more regularly. As it is, you're not killing yourself quickly enough.