Jimmy Webb and Kenny White: Keys Plus Comedy Equals a Full House
After a long week of work and other business necessities, what better way to wind down and de-stress than with good music and laughs? Many people found that kind of refuge at a sold-out show at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church, in which Kenny White and Jimmy Webb performed. About a half hour before doors opened at 7:30 p.m., a long line had already formed from the entrance to the near end of Church Street, from the right side of the church.
Not only was this entirely vocal- and piano-driven show special for the attendees and performers themselves, but also the Outpost volunteers, specifically Gina, who celebrated a birthday there. “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had,” she quipped, meaning every single word. Not only was it because of the performance, but the fact that she loves being a volunteer.
Enter Kenny White, a New York City-based singer-songwriter and studio musician, approaching the grand piano bench. He started it off with “Shoot the Moon” and “She’s Coming on Saturday.” After that, he brought out Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Angela Reed, and together they performed “Who’s Gonna Be the One,” a song he says he wrote about a girl six months before actually meeting her.
Then, Kenny White performed a song about his distaste for a great part of today’s radio and pop hits. Aptly entitled “Comfort in the Static,” it is not a song of bitterness, but rather of humor, especially with the lyric: “Sure, I’m bitter!”
After a few more jazzy numbers, including “In My Recurring Dream” and a song about his love for Italy, which he states that he has never performed before, it was time for intermission, and attendees headed out the doors towards the lobby to show their support by purchasing CDs, T-shirts and various goodies. One highly popular treat was a double chocolate cookie called Death by Chocolate, brought graciously by everyone at Montclair Bread.
Oklahoma native Jimmy Webb, the man whom everyone flocked to in the somewhat chilly weather to see, opened his set with a moving cover of “Highwayman,” originally by 80’s outlaw country supergroup the Highwaymen. After that, Webb gave an anecdote of how he was close friends and shared many memories with the late classic country luminary Waylon Jennings, who was one-fourth of the Highwaymen.
Jimmy Webb performed “Galveston,” another cover originally performed by another old-time country star Glen Campbell. Growing up attending a Baptist church but not religious now, Webb states that Campbell is his main inspiration in wanting to become who he is today, and that he loves the Unitarian Church.
Jimmy Webb also wholeheartedly thanked “everyone coming in such great numbers.” A song he wrote for the 1960’s group the Fifth Dimenison, “Up, Up and Away,” was a part of his set list and had nearly everyone in the room singing along. Jimmy Webb continued to entertain the crowd with witty banter about his musical life and songs such as “All I Know,” which he has also performed with Linda Ronstadt and Art Garfunkel in the past, respectively.
The next two Outpost events will take place on Nov. 1 and Nov. 15. The Grand Slambovians and Lauren Fox will be playing at the shows, both of which will have a food collection drive that takes non-perishable food products. On Dec. 6, Joseph Arthur will be performing, and that day Outpost will be collecting unopened toys for Toys for Tots.
Although attendees were not allowed to use cameras since the artists requested that no photography be allowed that night, Studio042 supplied beautiful programs for everyone to have as keepsakes.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login