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HILARIOUS HARMONIES
Stephen Lynch is not a musician, at least not in a typical sense. He's a comedian first, but he also happens to have an acoustic guitar, allowing him to turn phrases and drop puns as he strums merrily along. This duality provides twice the enjoyment for an audience, as Lynch is a capable guitar player and has an excellent, expressive voice. The entertainer's name is familiar if you're a watcher of VH1 or Comedy Central. He was used for sound bites in VH1's "I Love the '80s!" series and was featured in his own half-hour special on Comedy Central. Lynch is currently touring behind his new live album, "Superhero." The album's 16 songs are better taken in a live setting, as the recorded tracks can't capture the timing and stage presence Lynch has perfected as a stand-up comedian. Still, the songs are funny and catchy, which must be the aim of a comedian/guitarist. Lynch's voice is his best weapon; he cops a whine-perfect impersonation of Billy Corgan on "What if That Guy from Smashing Pumpkins Lost his Car Keys?" On the record's second track, "Dr. Stephen," Lynch muses about his desired profession as a gynecologist, singing, "There's not a lip that I can't read / A pap that I can't smear." Lynch is a solid entertainer, practiced in comedic timing, lyrical wordplay and musicianship. His act falls somewhere between the inane goofiness of Adam Sandler and the sheer brilliance of Tenacious D. Seeing him live, no doubt, would be worth the trip to Birdy's.
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SHE'S STILL 'STAY'ING AROUND
Lisa Loeb played the Cardinal Ballroom at Ball State University in 2002, delighting a slightly disrespectful crowd with her wit, humor and songwriting. She's currently touring in a similar fashion, playing intimate shows with a single guitar player. This time around her accompaniment is her husband, Dweezil Zappa. (The couple also appears on the Food Network, co-hosting a show during which they travel and eat. Their banter is pleasant and delightful; Adam Buckman, a reviewer for the NY Post, said, "They're adorable!" We won't go that far.) Over the last 10 years, Lisa's music and talent have become well-known. She was everywhere in 1994 when "Stay" was released. The single was so successful she became the first unsigned artist to chart a number-one record. Loeb's songs are often self-image fuel for teenage girls who feel sad and/or lonely. (This is odd, considering she majored in comparative literature at Brown). Still, this is a minor complaint, as she sings them with such conviction and sincerity it's easy to forgive her for minor lyrical mistakes. Since 1994 and "Stay," Loeb's fame has dwindled, but she continues to write, record and tour. She recently released an album mostly comprised of standards and covers called "Catch the Moon." Supported by the varied guitar ability of Zappa, Loeb's show at the House of Blues should be filled with sharp songs and even-sharper wit.
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NOT SO NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Valentine's Day, like Virginia, is for lovers. Surely, the night of Feb. 14 will see candles, rose petals and chocolates in grotesque excess. Tacky, soft music will be played while couples kiss, cavort and canoodle. It will be all romance and lovey-dovey saliva, at least for those who aren't in Cleveland, where Jordan Knight will be performing at the Odeon. Knight's music is of the soft and tacky kind, so for the meager audience that attends, they'll be sure to take in his wimpy beats and high-strung over-crooning. Knight, according to his former music teacher, Rose Holland, was "born with musical talent." In the biography on his Web site, she said, "He was always willing to go solo." How this bravery translates to music ability remains to be seen, as it could be said that each of the horrible contestants on "American Idol" are willing to go solo. Nevertheless, Knight's career flourished in the early '90s, as many teenage girls who could not relate to Kurt Cobain turned to him. Knight was, of course, the "lead" singer for New Kids on the Block, taking the microphone on classics like "You Got (The Right Stuff)" and "Step By Step." After NKOTB failed, Knight began singing anonymously in a hotel to get his confidence back. This is tremendously sad, but it worked, as Knight was able to release an album in 1999 featuring "Give it to You," a fairly successful single. In the end, it's hard not to root for a New Kid, but unfortunately, Knight's show in Cleveland will bomb. His elaborate choreography and lighting rigs will serve only as a romantic backdrop for kissing twenty-somethings reminiscing about the good ol' days.
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