Joshua Burning at BJ’s Creekside Pub, Saturday March 30, 2013, 7:30 PM

This is probably the finest configuration of acoustic musicians in the area. Over the years Keith Larsen (singer / song writer, guitar, mandolin, dobro, banjo), Garnet Waite (singer / song writer, guitar, mandolin and vocals) and Jon Gerlitz (guitar, vocals and bass guitar) have been staples on the local music scene and only recently they have come together as the alt/country/roots band Joshua Burning. As a duo Keith and Garnet have performed under that banner for a while but recently John Gerlitz has joined them on bass guitar to fill out the sound spectrum. Keith Larsen brings to the group some of the most formidable guitar and mandolin playing to be heard in this area. He has a lot of musical experience in just about every genre one would care to name. He is part of Elena Yeung’s BlueGrass band; He has played in rock bands; performed as a solo act; Done recording session work with Heather Gemmell and is always ready pick up an instrument in any musical context.    Garnet Waite has a great country voice, great song writing skills and is no less of maestro on guitar and mandolin. John Gerlitz is best known for his old time jazz and honky-tonk vocals and finger style guitar playing. For Joshua Burning he steps out of the shadows and plays bass guitar. The band was in fine form on Saturday night and that is an understatement. They were hot with a great repertoire of rootsy/country fare, great vocals, blazing guitar and mandolin runs and arrangements that included some spectacular double leads on guitars. At one stage Keith got into some syncopated mandolin breaks that came out sounding like pretty hefty banjo playing. Although most of the repertoire was covers of mostly, to my ear, relatively unknown pieces, there were some of the usual favorites there (for instance Old Crow Medicine Show’s Wagon Wheels, Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watch Tower, and The Doobie Brothers Blackwater) that had the audience rocking along with band. Garnet was playing his dad’s old Gibson acoustic guitar and he threw a few of his originals into the mix. His High Water Channel, The Wind is a Liar were there as well as his Summer Nights with the classic line, “summer nights in a small town used to be, summer nights in a way back fantasy”. Keith also threw his original  called Best Laid Plans. This was an evening of exceptionally fine acoustic music, in a fine acoustic environment,  in probably one of the most comfortable little pubs into the area.  The pub’s winter music program will be winding down over the next few weeks. James Neve will be hosting the last open mic session of the season on Saturday April 6, 2013.  Don’t miss it. Also note the following

Friday / Saturday April 5/6 2013, 9:30pm: JOSHUA BURNING at the St. Eugene Mission Casino. This is part of the Casino’s on going showcase series and the resort provides a shuttle service to and from the Casino.

Here are a few more images from Joshua Burning’s performance.

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