FREEDY JOHNSTON/ROSE POLENZANI
@Cactus Cafe, Austin, TX
October 27, 2001
Hoboken's Freedy Johnston has always been a rocker, the kind of performer who flourishes best with a tight, versatile band behind him, so it was a new experience to see him sans extra musicians. It seemed fresh to Johnston as well, as on his faster tunes he backed away from the mike, bobbing his head furiously in time to the drumbeat only he could hear. Despite having over a decade of experience and one of the most high quality singer/songwriter catalogs in contemporary music, he seemed apprehensive, as if he wasn't sure that the audience would warm to the bare-naked versions of his songs. He needn't have worried—the crowd was just glad to see him and happily accepted any song he chose to play. Despite consistent trouble with one of his guitars, he relaxed, flashing the impish Johnston wit and playing a variety of tunes from his half-dozen records. As would be expected, he concentrated mainly on his latest album Right Between the Promises and his popular breakthrough This Perfect World. "Waste Your Time," "Cold Again" and the Promises cover of "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" rocked even without a band, though in this setting ballads like "Radio For Heartache," "This Perfect World" and "You Get Me Lost" shined brightest. He played a surprising number of covers, opening with the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" and adding the Beach Boys' "Don't Worry Baby," the Carpenters' "Rainy Days and Mondays" and an encore of Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" and Todd Rundgren's "I Saw the Light" to his repertoire. Johnston may have been a bit uneasy, but in the end a good time was had by all.

Opener Rose Polenzani is a find. She's got a versatile, powerful set of pipes, complete command of her instrument and distinctive songs that rarely fall into singer/songwriter clichés. She relies a bit too much on wordless vocal wailing, but without an accompanist to fill in gaps she didn't have much choice. It wouldn't even be an issue if her lyrics weren't so compelling; a tune about a lesbian whose neighbors try to "save" her in the name of Jesus was particularly effective. She was nervous, and seemed taken aback by the usual Cactus tendency to carry on a conversation with the performer. However, like Johnston after her, she eventually relaxed and was quite charming once she realized she wasn't going to be bitten. She has two records out on Indigo Girl Amy Ray's label Daemon, which will no doubt be the first of many. Michael Toland