Schedules at Captain Tony's are loose. The acts cover for each other.
The redhead from Virginia started around five o'clock, which gave me a chance to hear Gary Hempsey for a few tunes. You know before Taz begins that you're in for something out of the ordinary. There's a charisma about her that tells you she's there to entertain you.
The fans begin to gather as she sets up on a torridly hot August afternoon. You know Taz is a great rhythm guitarist from the first chord. Her song list runs from John Prine to Cheryl Crow, with everything in between. This is one of the most popular girls on the island. Taz is a gorgeous redhead with an attitude!
"We Just Disagree" is a fine opener, actually a sound check. Requests are shouted out, the first for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Taz obliges with, what else, "Sweet Home Alabama." Make no mistake; this is a rock and roll girl, a great player and singer with a real stage personality. She sang "Landslide" for me. Stevie Nick's classic came alive with a harder edge. One of my favorite hippie rock standards, "Signs" followed, reminding me how very different it was when we all used to really speak our minds fearlessly, unaware of the chances we were taking. A Melissa Ethridge tune was next, accompanied with some very funny chatter. The audience interacts with Taz.
"Tell Me, Does She Love You" was excellent.
Taz interprets the songs she performs. She never copies. She even finger picks. She threw in a little Bluegrass to ease my Southern mind.
Taz goes out onto the sidewalk to talk folks inside. One of the best acts playing in this country is a Tarheel named Mike Cross, one of those people who will sell out wherever he chooses to play, but will never land a major label deal because he is anything but conventional. Taz sings a wonderful Mike Cross tune, "Lord, Preserve and Protect Us (we've been drinking whiskey for breakfast)." The crowd loved it.
Taz can rock out or leave you limp from emotion. One of the highlights of the day was a song from John Prine and the late, great Steve Goodman, "Souvenirs." The storyline will get to you. Would you believe Taz does an excellent job with songs from John Cougar Mellencamp? "Jack and Diane" was fine, and she was pouring out the energy on "Small Town." Both her range and her repertoire are amazing. I loved "Waiting On a Southern Train." You definitely want to spend some time with Taz. She's a regular at Captain Tony's, for good reason. You can thank me any old time! Stay cool.