Songs from the Nitrate Hymnal

at Warehouse Theater, 7/1/2006

Back in 2003, Bob Massey and company staged an ambitious, genre defying, rock / chamber / opera show called the Nitrate Hymnal. Some of the backstory about the production, and this new concert version is covered in a feature in last week's Washington Post Weekend section...

Originally, the work was presented by Washington Performing Arts Society, and supported by a grant from Creative Capital. Now, they've successfully raised the dough (Jean Cook is a genius) for a recording from the Copland Fund, and got some Meet the Composer money to pay for two performances, one in Brooklyn and this event in DC (plus an informal brunch the following day which I missed, sadly).

Several "numbers" from the show have been reworked, and turned into a song cycle. This plays to Bob's strengths as a songwriter - and the new arrangements are really well done. Performers included members of Gutbucket, Anti Social Music, and Bob's group, the Gena Rowlands Band.

The performance was excellent. The ensemble was very strong, and pulled off a truly inspiring performance of DIY / Punk influenced chamber orchestra music. Personally, I preferred hearing Bob sing many of the songs himself vs. the original staged version that he didn't perform in. Hai-Ting Chinn was spectacular - bringing bona-fide operatic chops to the stage, which actually (surprisingly) worked perfectly with the more "natural" rock/folk style singing of Bob and Daisy Press.

The theater was full (no surprise after they sold out four shows at a larger venue for the staged version) - and this was not your typical classical music audience.

The recording is on sale now on Lujo records.