UPPER LAKE >> After performing a moving, melancholy song all about remedying relationship mishaps, aptly titled “More Than Roses,” Rob Ickes said, “We”d like to send that out to anyone who”s been married more than 10 minutes.” Laughter erupted throughout the intimate crowd of 40.
On Tuesday night the Tallman Hotel held its second of six Concert with Conversation performances for the 2014-15 year. The concert featured a two-hour performance by Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, two talented musicians who are spending some time touring the country and promoting their new album. Ickes, a dobro player nominated for a 2015 Grammy, and Hensley, 24-year-old singer and guitar player, had the crowd laughing throughout the night and left the audience feeling like they were on a more personal level with the duo. This is the goal of the Concerts with Conversation series.
“I like rehearsals and sound check as much as actual concerts because you get to interact with musicians and see their personality as well as their musical talent,” said Bernie Butcher, owner of the Tallman Hotel. “We put two and two together to create informal [concerts] with audience interaction.”
Butcher has been organizing Concerts with Conversation since 2007 and they”re always a treat for the audience and musicians alike. “Musicians like it because they have intimate contact with the audience,” he said. “They”re relaxed as if they”re in the living room with their friends. That brings out the best in them because they”re relaxed and they”re performing at their best.”
Anyone who attends the concerts can see the effect the audience response has on the musicians. As the night went on, Ickes and Hensley grew more at ease as the audience cheered, laughed and stared in awe at the incredible guitar playing.
“They got very positive feedback from the audience,” said Butcher. “And you can see the musicians feed off the positive response from the audience with the audience being up there so close.”
Over the next four months, the Tallman Hotel will see the likes of the Salcedo Sisters and Alex Degrassi performing in the intimate space. Tickets are $25 and coffee and cookies are served at each performance.
Call 707-275-2244, ext. 0 for reservations. Visit www.tallmanhotel.com for more information.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
