Text and photos by Sylvia Mallory
This month’s New Song performance by Rob Flax’s Boom Chick Trio is not easy to describe, but we’ll give it a try. The remarkable musicianship of Flax and his bandmates, each a virtuoso in his own right, must come first. The ensemble impressively interwove bluegrass, blues, and rock riffs and rhythms into a canvas of classical and jazz foundations—all of it accented by bold arrangements, superb vocal harmonies, and high-energy passion. And then there were the dynamic showmanship and irreverent humor of Flax, seemingly a born entertainer with a flair for fun and frolic.
A classically trained multi-instrumentalist and composer, Flax commanded the stage from the moment he took the mic. Complementing his stellar work on violin and mandolin, his folksy anecdotes, and his gasp-inducing kicks and leaps were the contributions of his talented accompanists, Slava Tolstoy on guitar and Chris Tate on cello.
The trio’s two sets mixed it up tastefully. They opened with the hopeful love song “Persephone” off Flax’s first album, instantly showcasing his deft handling of his instruments. The lively “Procrastinator’s Blues” upped the tempo, and the relatable distractions catalogued in “Working from Home” brought smiles and head nods from the audience. “Waltz for Daves,” a tribute to famous musicians named Dave, blended classical, jazz, and folk rhythms (and knocked the socks off this listener). “Virtual Hugs” (“I’ll try to send you seven a day”) was sweetly in tune with the realities of our times.
“Waves,” a heartfelt composition written and movingly performed by Russian-born guitarist Tolstoy, hearkened to the ups and downs of his life’s journey. The eclectic playlist also featured “There Is Nothing So Grand as a War,” “Good Ducky,” “Exposure,” and “Send Me the Recipe” (for which the thoroughly engaged audience provided a chorus).
We once again hosted a big crowd, with 100+ rapt listeners in attendance. It was music to our ears to overhear their approving comments—on our sound system, the room’s comfortable seating, the tasty refreshments from Prince Street Café and Bakery, and the helpful volunteer team. On to our November show with Deadgrass!