The Warfield
San Francisco, CA
May 27, 2014
Rodriguez: Sugarman Found
Almost everything about Rodriguez is unique. His lifestory is so unusual and compelling
that it became an Academy Award winning documentary called Searching forSugarman. If you haven’t seen the film, you
are missing out. It’s an incredible,
heartwarming story about the rediscovery of a 70s folksinger abandoned to the
Could-Have-Been pile of history and his unknown fame in South Africa. And it couldn’t have happened to a warmer,
more generous or more genuine person. Seeing
Rodriguez perform live was a special experience, not only because I felt I was
witnessing part of his unusual history, but even moreso because his talent really
holds up without the Silver Screen treatment.
While many of his recordings sound dated now, they really came alive
with his young bandmates. There are
obvious and striking comparisons that can be made with
Photo by Jana L. |
(midcareer) Bob
Dylan. At times, Rodriguez sounded like
Dylan’s long-lost brother, perhaps separated at birth - though Rodriguez does sing better. Rodriguez did look visibly frail at times. He moved slowly and appeared to have significant vision problems but all that disappeared once he started singing. His voice was strong and energetic. Crowd favorites, like I Wonder and
Sugarman, were given upbeat rearrangements and Rodriguez really seemed to enjoy
himself. He also exhibited a wry sense
of lefty humor throughout the evening. A
special night.
1 comment:
BEST GIG EVER. Hands down, Best. Gig. Ever.
A magical night.
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