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Kate Schrock has this reputation for being one seriously
deep chick —
people are always describing her music as haunting, or ultra-personal,
or mesmerizing. But it doesn’t really come through on
the studio recordings. Her latest, Dames Rocket is great,
but not haunting. With instrumentation by folks like Nate
Schrock, Spencer Albee, Reed Chambers (Relish), and Ginger
Cote, too much of the essential Kate gets lost in what wind
up being really good, if really depressing, pop/folk tunes.
This live album, however, this will get you. Unless you’re
just
completely heartless. Here, Schrock is laid completely bare,
with her
piano the only thing accompanying her (yes) mesmerizing voice
singing
(you got it) ultra-personal lyrics. Take “The Edge”
as an example.
On Rocket, the tune opens with some poppy Jim Begley drums,
then mixes in some guitar by Steve Drown and brother Nate.
When the chorus comes, you might be led to believe this is
an upbeat tune. But here on the live album the chorus just
about knocks you down. “I’d go to the edge,”
Schrock sings desperately, her voice rising for the last syllable,
“trying to understand.” Whoever this guy is that
can “look upon someone with both love and hate,”
who can “lie and cheat and still sleep at night”
— well, I just wanted to grab him by the collar and give
him a good shake for making anyone desperate enough to sing
a song like that.
Such passion from someone who claims to be nervous in pre-song
banter is damn impressive.
Recorded last June in Tulsa, Oklahoma while Schrock was
on tour with Monte Montgomery, this disc is good, and not
just because it’s a fine mix of tunes off Schrock’s
Shunyata (“Overboard” and “Madman” sparkle),
Refuge (a spare “Mission Beach” is very cool), and
Rocket (“St. Jude” would do Billy Joel proud). It’s
a lasting document of what makes Schrock’s music original
and profound.
— Sam Pfeifle
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