BEN VAUGHN QUINTET REVVED UP FANS AT ‘16 TONELADAS’ (EXCLUSIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC REPORT)

When Ben Vaughn hit the stage last Wednesday, he was full-tilt, dance-about, waving-on fans and leading the night through some good-time music. All while singing his songs with wry humour and deadpan delivery. The fans were ready, as he is no stranger to Valencia. The quintet was all rock and roll spiced with a hint of everything American. They are a gumbo of sounds. All carefully crafted around lyrical stories woven from Vaughn’s genius imagination. Like the opening song Cashier Girl. Vaughn depicts a shopper’s humorous observations and an innocent, yet hidden infatuation for the girl at the checkout counter.

Vaughn’s unrequited love continued with the song Doormat. Ending the unhappy metaphor, singing that he would rather be her magic carpet ride. A witty punchline. The raw-rock tempo notched up with True Love as did the protagonist’s lyrical confidence.

Perhaps Too Sensitive for This World was Vaughn’s personal confession. A southern slow-groove soul, Vaughn led the chorus’s call and response “(I must be) Too Sensitive for This World, (Sing it for Valencia) Too Sensitive for This World.” Add in Gus Cordovox’s tasty accordion, it was a connecting and intimate audience moment.

Bassist Mike Vogelmann defined the rockabilly style Growin’ a Beard. Then into the roadhouse Tantalize. This kept everyone upbeat and dancing. Big Drum Sound was just that. Drummer Seth Baer pounding the floor toms claiming the song as his. The set included favorites New Jersey Rock n Roll, Daddy’s Gone For Good, Charlene, Darene and I Dig Your Wig amongst others. The music was dynamic. They could volume down to a quiet pin-drop then just as quick to a raucous crescendo.

The house went wild when the band paid homage to the venue with a one-off version of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s 16 Tons. CC’s (Carl Crabtree) saxophone with Cordovox’s accordion really made the song standout.

Riffing his guitar in a Phrygian Spanish guitar modality, this song soon continued with a sole accordion accompaniment. Vaughn’s chorus sang Viva Google Translate. The verses humorously shared his biography in broken Spanglish. Everyone roared with laughter.

Vaughn’s full spectrum guitar wrestling was controlled chaos; wild solos, string bending, finger sizzling, mic-stand sliding, frantic strumming and the feedback seducing sounds were endless. The Ben Vaughn Quintet was worth every minute of our full attention.