by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
Color me flabbergasted. When I visited the European Street Café on Beach Boulevard to cover Shoofly, my longtime friend and former fellow movie critic, Matt Soergel, and his wife Robin were performing high quality American roots music. I knew about Matt’s band, but I didn’t realize he’s an accomplished musician, playing guitar, banjo and mandolin. Robin sings and plays accordion. Joining the Soergels are Linda Greenville on guitar and vocal harmonies, Beau Halton on drums, Angela Bussone on violin, and John Longbottom on guitar, bass and numerous other instruments.
Over many years, Matt and I spent long hours in darkened movie theaters screening movies to review. Occasionally, Matt would bring his lovely wife Robin. They are so sweet and loving to one another it restored my faith in long-term marriages. So discovering another side of Matt and Robin was an uplifting experience. Clearly, after being together for three years, Shoofly enjoys performing live for audiences. At the group’s European Street gig, the room was full of friends, fans and supporters, including many of Matt’s colleagues at the Times-Union.
Not surprisingly, Matt considers playing music his real occupation and journalism his avocation. Nonetheless, as an ensemble, Shoofly is a joy to behold playing an eclectic repertoire of country, bluegrass, blues and originals. Robin and Angela’s voices harmonize with melodious synchronization. Yes, “roots touched Edna” (from a Crawfish of Love song) as Shoofly soothed my savage beast within. I especially liked the members of Shoofly’s laid-back stage persona and Matt’s witty repartee with the audience. It was a relaxing way to spend a Saturday night. And one of those tall beers from E-Street lasted me the entire show.
Renowned British singer/songwriter John Longbottom is a major asset to the group, lending his considerable talents to the mix. He is often featured as a soloist and occasionally sings lead. During John’s 20-plus year career, he’s been “down the road” as a professional troubadour, having played with Pete Seeger, Steven Stills, Don Williams and many other well known bluegrass bands and Irish Celtic groups. For folk music devotees, John is a must-see, whether he’s playing with Shoofly or as a solo act. Audiences love it when he hauls out his massive Ovation 12 /6 string double neck guitar.
Shoofly joins the popular movement toward the old time back-porch purveyors of mountain music played for entertainment. It was a bygone era before the technocratic age of television, computers, the Internet, iPods, and cell phones became major distractions. Eventually, mountain music evolved into bluegrass and various derivations of country. With all the stress of living in the modern world, listening to Shoofly is a trip back in time when life was simpler and music was homemade for no other reason than personal enjoyment.
The Songwriters Circle concerts at the European Street on Beach Boulevard are catching on with people looking for something different. The restaurant stays open serving food until 8:30 pm. The Songwriter’s Circle shows begins at 7 pm on most Saturday nights. To find out more about this new concert series, log onto pickersandsingers.com Call (904) 725-3829 to reserve a table.
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