Text by Sylvia Mallory; photo by Ralph Droms
Season 1 came to a star-studded conclusion with a wonderful show featuring veteran singer-songwriter Patty Larkin. Performing to a sell-out audience, she offered a mix of tunes while switching between her acoustic and electric guitars. The vocals and the guitar work were equally spot-on.
Larkin spiced up the program with humorous stories about her Midwestern Irish-Catholic roots and her decision to major in English. Her experiences provided rich fodder as she pursued her dreamed-of career as a musician and songwriter. Anecdotes about moving to Boston and busking on the streets of Cambridge in the 1970s as she studied jazz guitar at Berklee imparted local color.
The program featured fan favorites from Larkin’s first to most recent album. Among the selections were “All That Innocence,” “Who Holds Your Hand,” “Coming Up for Air,” “Good Thing,” “Bird in a Cage,” and “The Book I’m Not Reading.” Her cover of Nick Lowe’s “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding”—with its commentary on the passing of empathic understanding—seemed an apt critique for our times.
Expressing gratitude for this opportunity to return to Bedford, where she had played at the original New Song coffeehouse, Larkin mingled with the crowd and signed CDs after the show. Her fans headed home with appreciation for the evening of great music and with admiration for Larkin’s long and brilliant career. As for Larkin herself, she promised that “I’m going to spread the word about New Song.”