This past Saturday, Ian George performed at Blue House Stage, a local venue in Scotts Valley. My friend Emma and I drove just 15 minutes on the 17 and arrived at a winding road that led into mountains. We passed beautiful homes and farmland amongst redwoods until we approached a small gathering of young boys in the street. “Excuse me!” Two of them hollered at us and motioned to roll down the window. They asked for my name, verified that it was on the guest list, and then told me to park at the “very top” (and to please not park in front of the basketball hoop).
Up the gravel driveway, the house is big and beautiful–blue and purple with the occasional citrus accents. In the yard, where the show takes place, string lights droop down over the audience who sit cozied-up with blankets and friends. Emma and I felt welcomed as newcomers and it’s clear that warmth and inclusion is a priority. Many people brought their kids who, throughout the show, were free to run and play and do their own thing, or to hang out and watch.
Ian George is an indie folk singer from Minnesota with a mullet and good dance moves. Right off the bat, he was a very entertaining host, telling long (yet extremely captivating and funny) stories to preface most songs. George was accompanied by a lead guitarist and drummer. The 3-piece was, as he pointed out, “2/3 redheads and 2/3 dads.” The music started a little after 7 PM and it was immediately apparent that these guys have a lot of fun jamming live together, making for an unpredictable and engaging performance. George’s voice is that of Buck Meek meets Rufus Wainwright meets Andy Shauf: raspy with a rich and twangy timbre, but with a pop, almost theatrical tone. The first song of the setlist, “Better With a Buddy,” was about the importance of friendship in a lonely world, but also the importance of creating that friendship for yourself.
Solitude is fine, as is a buddy
As the sun set to sounds of lively folk music and faint shrieks of children playing and dogs barking, I knew this would be a great night. I’m pretty sure the lead guitarist saw God a couple of times as he was playing–his mouth agape and mimicking the guitar licks, and his face held high to the heavens. At one point, I watched him feel the music so deep that he started to fall, but caught himself. He and George are both dads (the 2/3) and it was beautiful to imagine this band as their momentary escape from responsibility and their opportunity to play like children again themselves. At the same time, I think this band acts also as their mode of appreciating their fatherhood. Many of George’s witty and reflective lyrics are about his experience being a dad and a partner.
By 7:45, the crickets were chirping loudly and George initiated a talk-to-a-stranger break time to talk with audience members and encourage audience members to talk to each other. It was during this break that I noticed KZSC’s Dangerous Dan in the audience talking to George! What a small world. The rest of the show flew by–I truly enjoyed every song and the overall cozy environment of the Blue House Stage. I think my favorite songs of the night were “Grassy Knoll,” “Flower Dog,” “Chop Saw,” and “Gone.” The final song started with a soft jam and then seamlessly, the guitars met in the middle and became one.
We grow and we grow til we die to regrow, not gonna reason why.