Review: Phil Minissale and Friends Impress at Grounds & Sounds

Regardless of age, few musicians in this day and age now fly the flag for roots music.

But then again, few do it the full justice it merits.

A fervent but humble disciple of the form, Phil Minissale's journey began 10 years ago and about 30 miles outside of Philadelphia in the suburb of Downingtown, Penn. – when and where he first picked up a guitar.

He said his approach to the instrument – a roll-and-tumble fingerpicking style, adept at either steadying or swinging – made lessons more than a minor challenge. Electrified bluesmen like Stevie Ray Vaughan had forged a style that proved popular among many budding guitarists, but Minissale's tastes were decidedly different. He gravitated toward older, acoustic-driven blues styles, especially the down-home flavors of Piedmont and Delta, embodied by legends like Blind Willie McTell, Blind Blake, Robert Johnson and Son House.

At first strictly an instrumentalist, the singer/songwriter (at 24, he's arguably still quite young) said listening to a set by folk legend Dave Van Ronk (also a seminal influence on Bob Dylan) gave him the impetus to find his voice: a textured baritone that radiated warmth and charisma (even at full volume, a rare and welcome surprise) across the emotional gamut of his songs. Lyrically gifted to boot, his plain-spoken, clever-without-trying manner gave the set added heft.

Now performing live for seven years and currently on a 14-city tour that included Friday evening's performance at the Grounds & Sounds Cafe at , his talents have only been sharpened by his commitment to the road. Joined onstage by the equally talented contrabassist Craig Akin, Minissale's deliberately stripped-down instrumentation helped the intimate tone of the songs shine through, from the dreamy meandering of "I Know Love" (one of several featuring Akin's well-judged use of a bow) to the slow-burning "You Make a Mess of Me" and the minor-key jangle of "Home to Me" – also the title of his first album, released in 2008. His latest, Young Fool, was released last May.

Exploring life's lows, especially when love goes wrong, naturally gives the blues a lot of its pained power. Minissale never failed to capture and convey the feelings his outstanding material demanded, particularly on songs like the bleak, brooding "Smart Enough to Run," the measured catharsis of "Let Me Explain," and the faithful Loudon Wainwright cover "Motel Blues."

However Minissale's blues, once exorcised, granted him solace and even elation. At one point, his awareness of this led him to joke after the gutbucket thump of "Love Blues."

"This might be a very bipolar experience tonight," he said, laughing. "It's funny that I find myself smiling after that."

A break between sets allowed a spirited performance from other talents, including local singer/songwriter John Myles (his songs ranged from the scathing "Corporation Man" to the tender "Wisdom of the Flowers," where he made joking asides about buying flowers for St. Valentine's Day), joined by electric guitarist Eli Maniscalco and saxophonist Carl Ogrib.

Receiving praise from Myles, Minissale returned the favor, covering Myles' song "Invisible Man" and inviting Ogrib onstage for a final song. As an encore, Minissale and Akin finished the night with another cover – this time, Bill Withers' soul classic "Use Me."

With his father Steven joining the crowd that night, the younger Minissale admitted his parents were, at least at first, somewhat apprehensive of his life as a touring musician. But the appreciation from the crowd was confirmation enough that his path was as clear as ever.

"They recognize my talent and they have faith in me," he said, smiling yet again. 

Editor's Note: For more information about Phil Minissale, visit his website. The Grounds & Sounds Cafe is hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Stony Brook, with performances every second Friday of every month. More information can be found at its website.