BNL in SLC

Steven Page isn't Jimmy Page and Tyler Stewart isn't Steven Tyler and Ed Robertson isn't Ed Sullivan. Bare Naked Ladies are just themselves.

I saw them for the second time in my life on Wednesday at the E-Center, courtesy of the my able friend Michael S., GM of the Utah Grizzlies.  What a great band to see in Salt Lake City - a place desperately in need of irreverence.  BNL obliged, offering commentary on our "Library of the Year!" as well as multiple mentions about the allegedly rigid moral standars here.  The band can't close with the song "Alcohol" in too many cities with less tongue-in-cheek irony (or was it comeuppance) than SLC.

BNL is not my favorite band but I told my wife I'd put them in the Top 25.  U2, Lowen & Navarro, Poi Dog Pondering, Allison Krauss - they're in my top 10, but BNL probably doesn't crack the Top 20, I thought as I talked.  Let's put them at 24, for the hell of it.

Regardless of what you think of them, I think Steven Page can belt out a pop song with the best of them - and Ed Robertson offers a stark contrast that makes them two bands for the price of one for me.  Robertson's "One Week" has been their most successful song ever - and he and Page pair comedically on "If I Had a Million Dollars" - but I prefer some of their more understated songs like "Jane", "Shoebox" and "The Old Apartment".  My wife digs "Who Needs Sleep?" - one of her personal anthems.  They played all these favorites, plus "Easy" - the big single off the new album, which reminds me of Bruce Hornsby for some odd reason.

Anyways, I like to see authentic performance, and while BNL could have mailed it in for this show on Thanksgiving Eve in a half-empty arena with only a trace of Kraft-macaroni-throwing, I think the ticket-buying public got their money's worth.  Improvised banter is a staple of their shows, and they found plenty of content in lovely, unappreciated Utah.  They threw in the funniest, most unexpected rendition of "I Wanna Wish you a Happy Thanksgiving" featuring the drummer Stewart on lead vocals, Robertson on keyboard ("That sounds so Spanish!" quipped one of his bandmates) and everyone else accordingly shuffled to a different instrument.  The night featured an accordion, banjo, cello and other atypical rock band instruments, although their threat to include a didgeridoo was never fulfilled.  Of their two leading lights, Page acted like the utter goofball that I think he autobiographically describes in "Grade 9".  Robertson offered his wry, sly, more urbane perspective on the insanity going on stage around him - you got what you hoped for out of this show. 

Finally, I couldn't help think all night how "cute" Canadians are.  Now don't go all crazy on me and threaten to withhold your maple syrup from us, but you Canadians (from Toronto FC, the three that worked for me in Chicago among others) just have an "awshucks, we're just trying to be socially responsible, spirits-loving, good-humored, non-offensive" neighbors to us heathens here in the USA.  I like that in them.  So much so that moving to Canada remains in my Top Three exit plans should Schwarzenegger, Schwarzkopf or Limbaugh ever win the US presidency. 

The other star of the evening was Harry's in Sugarhouse.  Chef David Kimball and Crazy Jake the waiter are HUGE RSL fans.  Kimball brings casual sophistication to the American menu in a trendy decor dining room across the street from the park.  Go hungry and start with Harry's fresh-fried potato chips.  My wife and I loved the blackened salmon and grilled mahi, but for me, the vegetables (carrots, zucchini, etc.) on her plate were simply mouth-watering.  A great piece of fish is a pleasure, but when was the last time you remember enjoying vegetables so much in a restaurant?  Harry's is a favorite of RSL players so support the place that takes great care of us.