Show: Burlap to Cashmere
Date: June 26, 2011
Venue: Hotel Café
City: Los Angeles, CA
Burlap to Cashmere
Photos by Nicolas Bates
Written by Michelle Oberg
A decade long hiatus usually renders a band forgotten amongst the masses and in need of a different formation, style and image to be resurrected and embraced by the ever-evolving music community. Burlap to Cashmere makes their comeback with a major label backing their efforts after many moons of separation and triumph over tragedy. A new album, outlook and emotional backing thrust them back up onto the musical cogs with little change, prompting an immediate self-titled album (due July 19th) followed by a tour.
These award-winning folk rockers retooled with original members Steven Delopoulos (vocals/guitar), John Philippidis (guitar/vocals), and Theodore Pagano (drums), while adding two new faces to their introductory line-up: Chris Anderson (bass/cello) and Todd Caldwell (organ).
They may have paved the way for bands like Mumford and Sons and Fleet Foxes since their birth in the common year of 1994, but remain the pioneers of the alternative/folk Mediterranean-infused stylings. This time around they have stripped down their sound providing an effervescent live set infused with both melodic and awe-inspiring tunes. Not to mention impressive guitar solos from Philippidis.
A large crowd filled the Hotel Café in Hollywood for Burlap to Cashmere’s pre-album release 12-song set on June 27th. The artists mingled with fans, family, friends and record label execs prior to their performance in the dimly lit locale. Upon taking to the stage they immediately commenced their revue with “Love Reclaims the Atmosphere.” Philippidis wore his now signature shades and strummed gently along to Delopoulos’s poetically-introverted hymn-sounding lyrics, reminiscent of James Taylor’s “Fire & Rain” with added harmonies.
The precedent had been set for greatness and greatness was achieved. “Anybody Out There” had an incomparable guitar solo to any other song and showcases their talents as their heaviest tune from the set. Anderson interchanged between his cello and bass throughout the night, offering show-goers a taste of instrumental distinction of classical and rock tones, while Pagano opted for padded sticks and apple boxes to mix it up. Caldwell’s organ added depth and richer sounds to amplify the rest of the band’s instrumentals. Delopoulos’s vocals softly swept us off our feet and rocked us into a daydream in a far away land.
Watching Philippidis play his acoustic like an electric—his past and life changing hurdles all seemed to be dust in the wind—we were blessed with experiencing his emotional slides, high-neck solo-like work…the whole shebang. A favorite for the evening for its instrumentals, harmonies and fast rhythmic notes was “Tonight” and “Other Country.”
An hour and a half really flew by with this bunch as they captivated the room. It is uncommon for a young band to divulge a young community with sounds from an era long ago, but they irrefutably overcame boundaries and generational gaps, and were able to fuse them all together. Their live performance is record worthy, which is what brings old fans back for their reunion and introduces new fans to a world they may have never known. Travel to a new age with Burlap to Cashmere, where time moves slowly in style and evolves rapidly with worldly inspiration. They are a band you do not want to miss.