Slow Runner and Rachel Kate Give Fans a Double Treat
Michael Flynn at the Circular Congregational Church (photo by Jon Santiago)
Slow Runner w/ Rachel Kate
Circular Congregational Church, Dec. 1
It was a good night to be in church. With the traditional excesses of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday not too far behind them, the crowd filing in to the Circular Congregational Church on Saturday night (Dec. 1) looked to be ready for a different sort of experience. There were treats in store for them, yes, but not the kind that leave you feeling overstuffed and immobile. More along the lines of those involving a deep, cleansing breath of appreciation and finding your center, musically speaking.
The Charleston Listening Room series presented by Awendaw Green and Suncoast Promotions brought together Slow Runner in a rare Charleston performance and, to kick things off, singer/songwriter Rachel Kate Gillon.
With cellist Diego Villena, Ms. Gillon (of the Local Honeys) showed another side of her lyrical gifts with a series of heartfelt and occasionally searing ballads many of which will surely make their way onto her upcoming disc, Rachel Kate: with Love and Hate. After delivering an hour-long, no-holding-back performance, she returned to the stage for a stunning a cappella encore.
Back in the Holy City after a long absence, singer/pianist Michael Flynn and longtime collaborator Josh Kaler’s band Slow Runner found themselves at the center of something like a homecoming celebration. Featuring drummer Jack Burg, percussionist Ron Wiltrout, bassist/guitarist Jonathan Gray, and special guest trumpeter Clay White, Slow Runner gave their audience a long list of reasons to hope their next Charleston show is rather sooner than later — including songs from their recent album Damage Points and renditions of newly released digital singles “XXX” and “I Always Thought.”
Toward the end of the show, Flynn’s duets with guest singer Cary Ann Hearst (of Shovels and Rope) seemed to underscore the evening’s big takeaway: the musical talent in our own backyard is truly an embarrassment of riches.
Rachel Kate at the Circular Congregational Church (photo by Jon Santiago)
Michael Flynn and Cary Ann Hearst at the Circular Congregational Church (photo by Jon Santiago)
Top photo by Jon Santiago.
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About the Author
Jon Santiago is a freelance writer, photographer, and graphic designer based in Charleston, S.C. Every now and then, he hauls his guitar out to an open mic night and plays some original songs in public. He has been warned about this.
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