Review: Adam Arcuragi & The Lupine Chorale Society at PA's Lounge, Somerville MA 2.3.12

Words and Photos // Scott Pingeton

It's all too rare that a record comes along without hype or expectations and completely knocks me on my ass, but that's exactly what happened with Adam Arcuragi's brilliant new album Like a fire that consumes all before it.  Devoid of posturing, pretension and "flavor of the month" veneer, the album shines in its simplicity - it's about the heart, the soul and the songs.  No more and no less.  Timeless soul infused folk, delivered with a fire-and-brimstone gospel fervor.  Quiet laments and calls to arms, both whispered and shouted for all to hear.  The band refers to it as "Death Gospel", and that works for me.  The best record I've heard so far this year.

Adam Arcuragi and his excellent band The Lupine Chorale Society stopped at PA's Lounge in Somerville last weekend as part of their nation-wide tour in support of Like a fire....  Arcuragi and band took the stage with little fanfare, quickly launching into folk rave-up "President's Song", but it didn't take long to overcome an unattentive crowd and awful sound system.  Arcuragi's voice filled the room and silenced conversations mid-sentence as he and his band worked through a 45 minute set that drew heavily from Like a fire... and included a brilliant cover of The Ronettes "Be My Baby".  The live show took on the same characteristics as the album - no bullshit, just great, passionate music.  The songs were fleshed out by The Lupine Chorale Society, a crack band consisting of drums, bass, keys and banjo/pedal steel that showed the power to carry the songs and the restraint to let Arcuragi's soulful vocals steal the show.

A fantastic show from one of my favorite up-and-coming artists - I was enthralled from the first note to the last.  I guarantee that they'll be playing a bigger venue next time they come through Boston and that it will be a show you don't want to miss.  Until then, get the record (on vinyl preferably...it sounds goood) and tell your friends.

I recorded the entire show, but thanks to a talkative crowd and weak sound system the end result isn't great.  Here's "Here Comes Everyone", one of the tracks that ended up being listenable.

Adam Arcuragi - Here Comes Everyone (Live at PA's Lounge, Somerville MA - 2.3.12)

And here's a great video of "Oh I See" from slyke25:

Comments

[Kevin]

I've been hoping to catch him since I saw his Tiny Desk Concert a year or so back via NPR, and was really excited to see he was stopping in Boston, so dragged a friend out to PA's with me. The show was great, though you're right - the sound system, and the pair of noisy drunk meatheads in the crowd - left a lot to be desired. Hopefully next time he comes through he'll play at a place with better sound and a more attentive audience.

Other than the music, the best part of the evening for me was listening to one of the drunks get shot down hard by the young woman standing near (working?) the little merchandise table at the back of the room. It went something like:

"HEY!"
(silence)
"WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"
(silence)
"DON'T YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME?"
"No, now please shut up and let me watch the show."

I fell in love for a minute or two there.