I’ll admit it. I’m not usually a fan of the whole folksy singer-songwriter thing. I mean, I get it, you have something to say and you want to back it with an acoustic guitar to make people listen. In theory, this sounds like a pretty good idea. In practice, the average singer-songerwriter comes off to me as overly dramatic and sparse, or flowery and, well, boring.
is not average. As a matter of fact, he is one of the most engaging singer-songwriters I’ve ever seen live.
“I’ve come to say exactly what I mean, and I mean so many things,” said Pug on the beautifully moving “Hymn 101.” And so it was when Pug brought his $10 Tour and accompanying Hundred Mile Band to the on Friday night.
Some songwriters have a hard time bringing a full band sound to their original solo work. However, having seen Pug perform “Hymn 35” previously as a solo acoustic piece, I was stuck by just how hauntingly beautiful the song can be when given the proper backing of the Hundred Mile Band. The already-solid song was reinforced by a stand up bass and a Telecaster with a smooth steel guitar sound and was transformed into something more.
The Hi-Dive can backfire on artists that don’t engage their audience. The Friday crowds are just off from a long work week and ready to lubricate their night with frequent trips to the bar. Frankly, on some nights the crowd can completely drown out the performers on stage with their own loud conversations. This was not the case last night. It was clear the crowd had respect for Pug and his lyrics. When Pug sang “I do My Father’s Drugs” the crowd was listening intently and focused on the music he was playing.
Pug isn’t a trailblazer of his own unique genre — his vocals often sound like Dylan — and he’s certainly no Elliott Smith when it comes to creative arrangements. That doesn’t matter, because Pug’s songs feel authentic, with thoughtful lyrics and the honesty of conviction in the words he is delivering. Itap a powerful package.
Pug was supported by the local Denver band , a three piece acoustic band with enough mellow hooks to keep the crowd entertained. Additionally, from L.A. provided support with his acoustic guitar combined with a synthesizer and drum machine combo that was hit or miss.
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Allen Klosowski is the social media strategist for The Denver Post. Check out .
Anya Semenoff is a Denver-based photographer and an editorial assistant at The Denver Post.
