In one of those interesting and strange combinations of bands placed on a bill together, Donavon Frankenreiter‘s opener was Sara Watkins. While I’m sure you could find two bands who were farther apart, this one was good enough to create a near-complete audience turnover in between sets. Almost all of Watkins’ bluegrass-loving fans were replaced by a slightly rowdier, more eccentric crowd ready to enjoy the laid-back yet funky vibe of Frankenreiter and his backing band.

Despite the marquee mismatch, the show was great. I had never heard more than one of Frankenreiter’s songs (“Move By Yourself”), but I enjoyed myself nonetheless. The bass player had my ear much of the time, with impressive funky grooves behind every song, and the whole group seemed to do a good job balancing 70′s cool, spaciness, and genuine musical enjoyment.

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