Bell @ Sidewalk Cafe - 6 January 2007

This past Saturday night at Sidewalk Cafe was my second time seeing Bell. The first time I fell head over heels for Olga and her band so, believe it or not, this time I went into the show a bit apprehensive. That's natural for me though. I didn't want to fool myself, right? After all, Bell is a young band and the goo goo ears that I got after seeing them might have been a one-time-only thing. Maybe this show would reveal Olga Bell and her boys to be nothing more than an enchantress playing music with a couple of talentless hacks.

Okay, so that's totally not what my second impression turned out to be. This time Olga played the house piano rather than one of those fancy newer generation Juno synthesizers that she played last time and the band performed without the guest aid of Jessica from Via Audio. Happy guy was I, as this made for an entirely different experience. If the first show was a party for the eyes and ears this show was an intimate session for the heart and mind. (score one for cheese/hyperbole)

Gone was the joie de vivre dancey/clappy playing that I saw at The Delancey and in its place was a mellower style that highlighted the performing talents of the three members of Bell. At various moments Mike's bass or Jason's kit work would jump to the front but for most of the show I focused on Olga's piano playing and let her voice lead the way. The band played three cover songs (including their now instant-classic take on Ski Lo's "I Wish" and a nice twist on The Go-Go's "Vacation") that may very well have turned out to be the highlights of the evening. That's what I heard some people saying afterwards at least. Still, speaking for myself, I have to say that my favorite moments were two originals. Two songs of Bell's that I love more than words... MORE than "More Than Words" even. The first ("Expanding File") you can listen to below and the other ("Better Way") is available at Bell's MySpace page. Is it fair to say that I'm already anxiously looking forward to Bell's debut album? Is it that obvious? It should be.

Listen:
"Expanding File"

See more pictures from this show HERE.

Want to see Bell live? Bell's next show will be to perform the classic song "Do Right" as part of the Covers for the Cure: A Benefit for Breast Cancer Research at Joe's Pub. More dates HERE.