Concert Review - David Wax Musem @ Longwood Gardens

Friday October 7th, the David Wax Museum played a members show at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa.  We arrived about 15 minutes late, but it was so amazing when we got there, we were swept away immediately. The setting was picture perfect. It was a museum quality hall filled with the best foliage. Trees lined both sides of the seated area, parasols made a canopy, and the band set up on stage in front of a pool.  David Wax & Greg Glassman looked sharp in their attire, and Suz looked fabulous in her dress.  The only detractor was the sitting crowd. 

Set List (that we caught). including original David Wax Museum album
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'Chuchumbe' - Everything is Saved (2011)

Greg Glassman and David Wax

'The Least I Can Do' - Everything is Saved
'Night Was A Car' - Everything is Saved
'Jalopy Heart' - Carpenter Bird (2009)
'Let Me Rest' - Carpenter Bird      
'When You Are Still' - Carpenter Bird 
'Yes, Maria, Yes' - Everything is Saved   
Yes m y  w crowd participation

 ~~ short cocktail break  ~~

'Wait For Me' - Everything is Saved
'The Persimmon Tree' - Carpenter Bird
'The Great Unawakening' I Turned Off Thinking About (2008)
'Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye - LEONARD COHEN
'Look What You've Down to Me' - Everything is Saved
'Carpenter Bird'.- Carpenter Bird 
'Colas' - Carpenter Bird
'Born With A Broken Heart' - Everything is Saved

For me, the highlight was seeing the band so purely.  For instance, despite listening to the album dozens of  times this year, I had never noticed the electric guitar at the end of 'Wait For Me', but it stood out so wonderfully live.

Suz was a bigger part than I had expected.  She was exemplary on 'Let Me Rest' and fantastic taking the lead vocals on 'Look What You've Done For Me'  

This was my first real exposure to Carpenter Bird the band's late 2009 release. the song 'Carpenter Bird' was so much fun, as the band roamed the seating area, including a temporary relocation to a great hall adjacent to the stage.  'Colas' kept up the enthusiasm for the crowd, before heading into the rowdy finale 'Born With  a Broken Heart'. 

Finally, the stories were great.  David Wax admitted to being hesitant to share stories about writing songs, but told us anyway about writing 'Wait For Me' in an airplane bathroom, and 'The Great Unawekening' about a shopping mall.  

Photo By Erik Jacobs, Anthem Multimedia