When one thing ends, another begins. Suz Slezak had her baby 6 weeks ago and suddenly she was back on tour in the limelight. She talked about how relaxing her life as a pregnant woman was compared to hotel rooms and tour buses. I suppose that coming back to Boston (where they started and Wax went to grad school) felt like a homecoming. 
And David Wax knew how to make us all feel at home. There’s nothing quite like an unamplified song. And midway through the show, the band headed off into their own parts of the crowd and proceeded to sing “Carpenter Bird.” The song felt like a raucous sing-along. I like the song on record, but I loved it live. The sheer joy of performance in the band was infectious. The band met in the middle of the joyful crowd and couldn’t help but join in.
In addition to this climactic moment, the band delivered searing versions of “Vivienne” and “Yes, Maria Yes” truly. Throughout Wax switched between a more Americana acoustic guitar sound and his jarana, an instrument that looks like a small guitar. Its sound is unique and fits with the joyous atmosphere.
Several songs were sung in Spanish and their unique flavor seems to transition so neatly between Americana and rural Mexican music. It makes the close connection between the two cultural traditions apparent. The concert also showed me how the artificial separation of cultures often separated by borders but connected by experience. The sound of the band is so full and inspiring it really does break down barriers.
Photos by Suzanne McMahon
About the author: Jeff is a teacher in the Boston area. When not buried correcting papers, Jeff can be found plucking various stringed instruments and listening to all types of americana music.