Concert Review - Anaïs Mitchell and the Young Man Band - March 1st @ the Tin Angel, Philadelphia, Pa

Touring in support of her brand new album Young Man in America Anaïs Mitchell and her Young Man Band came to Philly's Tin Angel.  Young Man in America “Inspired by American manhood, British ballads and my father.” released Tuesday February 28th by Wilderland Records / Thirty Tigers, the fourth album from Vermont-based artist Anaïs Mitchell.

While I was waiting on the stairs before the show, looking at all the portraits of those before her, Patty Griffin, Radney Foster, Amy Correia, Roseanne Cash, Gil Scott-Heron, and Dar Williams amongst others; I realized it was only a matter of time before her portrait hung with them.  Likewise, it's fitting that this was the chosen location for her album's Philly unveiling.  The tight narrow space of the Tin Angel was filled nearly to capacity as only a few spots remained.  One patron was even overheard exclaiming "all the singer songwriters are here", and the crowd brimmed with excited faces in anticipation of Anaïs Mitchell.

The evening started off with opener Rachel Ries, who happens to be part of Anaïs' Young Man Band and is also a long time friend and collaborator.  This was no "favor" slot, as Rachel held her own with the microphone and red electric guitar, delighting the crowd with various tracks including 'Holiest Day' and 'I've Forgiven Time' from her recent EP On Laurel Lake and cover of Outkast's 'Elevators'. 

Rachel joined, Ben Davis of Cuddle Magic, and Noah Hahn as the Young Man Band, backing Ms. Anaïs Mitchell. Tracks from The Brightness, Hymns For the Exile, and Country EP with Rachel Ries were all featured.  Her critically acclaimed album Hadestown was omitted from the set-list, not that I blame her.  It's a tremendous album, but that was the last five years for her, working on the folk opera production and later album.  2012 is about Young Man In America.  Ten of the eleven album tracks were played for the crowd, including the first three album tracks together.

While Young Man in America was created with an ensemble cast, the live showing with the Young Man Band was no step down.  Ben Davis played all the album banjo parts, and was also quite impressive with percussion, notably on 'Young Man in America' keeping tune with cymbals, while drumming and playing the glockenspiel simultaneously.  Noah Hahn took all bass duties with his fret-less Electric bass, and told the occasional joke and story. 


The set was varied from the solemn 'Shepherd' and 'He Did' by just Anaïs & Ben, to 'Arabic Chicken Song' & 'Out of Pawn' which were solo and by request.  Some songs were a perfect match to the albums, such as 'Young Man In America', while others had variations such as 'Dying Day' sans the Chris Thile mandolin part.

Highlights included a quick and beautiful 'Oh My Star'(very similar to the Daytrotter session), .the captivating 'He Did', and a terrific meld of Anaïs' unique voice & Rachel Ries's beautiful tones, for a Counting Crows cover of 'Round Here'!

Anaïs let us in on a few tidbits during the show.  Foremost to the excitement of the Philly crowd was notification that Anaïs & Co played a set for David Dye & XPN including the "radio friendly" 'Anne Marie'.   She talked about the album, letting us know it is her dad gracing the album cover, and 'Shepherd' is about a book her dad wrote Souls Of Lambs.

She told of opening for the Cowboy Junkies the night before in Annapolis, MD, whereas she did her best Margo Timmins impression with a relaxed over the mic posture during 'Of a Friday Night' 

The best story was a follow-up of one Rachel Ries told earlier in the evening.  She had borrowed Anaïs' Toyota Echo in rural Tenn, which caused her anxiety about what the locals thought of the  "STOP the War" sticker & VT plates.  Anaïs however, much to the crowd's delight explained she was in a rush to install the sticker and inadvertently stuck it on backwards; so really, all the outsiders would see it "RAW THE POTS"

Overall the show was a quite a delight!   The Young Man Band performance of Young Man in America was just as superb as the brand new album.  If you have the chance to see them live, go for it!  Likewise, check out the album!  I've had it since early February, and I've already listened to it end to end 15 times!


SET LIST - Anaïs Mitchell and the Young Man Band

original set list

Tin Angel, Philadelphia, Pa March 1st, 2012

Title -   Original Album (or original artist)
1.  'Wilderland'                       Young Man In America
2.  'Young Man In America'   Young Man In America
3.  'Coming Down'                 Young Man In America
4.  'Anne Marie'                     Young Man In America
5.  'Dying Day'                       Young Man In America
6.  'O My Star'               Country EP with Rachel Ries
7.  'Shepherd'                        Young Man In America
8.  'He Did'                            Young Man In America
9.  'Arabic Chicken Song'     
10. 'Out of Pawn'                       The Brightness
11. 'You Are Forgiven'         Young Man In America
12. 'Cosmic American'           Hymns For the Exiled
13. 'Tailor'                            Young Man In America 
14. 'Of a Friday Night'               The Brightness
15.  'Ships'                            Young Man In America
ENCORE
16. 'Round Here'                    Counting Crows

Head over to Anaismitchell.com to sign up for her Newsletter and gain the free 'Shepherd' download upon sign-up

If you want to check out more songs before purchasing try Daytrotter.com!  Although, I'd imagine, you'll be following that with a trip to Anaismitchell.com/store/ for the highly acclaimed Hadestown or newly released Young Man In America!

For a taste of Rachel Ries, head over to her site to download some tracks from her latest EP On Laurel Lake