Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and Dave Rawlings Machine

I thought the Gillian Welch concert at the MN Zoo Amphitheater was phenomenal. First of all, the venue itself was perfect. The Zoo's amphitheater was small and intimate while providing a natural open air backdrop. Perfect for a summer night. But what made the night so special were the artists themselves. Gillian Welch did not disappoint. Her voice and stage presence were captivating. Her partner and lead guitarist, David Rawlings absolutely killed it. Both of them performed with such passion and feeling as individuals and worked great as a duo as well. Their in-between-song banter was short but funny. They played two incredible sets, mixing upbeat numbers with slower numbers from a variety of their albums, and played two encores. Not only did the crowd thoroughly enjoy themselves, Gillian and David seemed to as well. I am already looking forward to the next time they are in town. Only, this time I will bring my young daughter, so she, too, can experience the musical magic that is Gillian Welch.

Though relatively unknown, David Rawlings made a name for himself behind the scenes in the music industry as a producer for bands like Ryan Adams and Bright Eyes and singer Gillian Welch. In recent years he has teamed up with musical partner Gillian Welch along with Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, Willie Watson, and Paul Kowert to form the Dave Rawlings Machine, a bluegrass folk band. They debuted their first album 'A Friend of A Friend' in 2009 and have played recently this month at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco. Blue denim, cowboy hats, and string instruments in hand, the Dave Rawlings Machine takes you away from the city and the present and to the rural south of yesteryear. Banjos, guitars, and bass blend harmoniously in a battle of strings accompanied by Rawlings husky accented vocals. So far, the band is most known for cover songs like Ryan Adam’s “To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)” a number that will have you tapping your toes and nodding your head. As a California girl myself, another favorite of mine is the Led Zeppelin cover “Going to California” which features the original band’s own John Paul Jones. This catchy, fast-paced rendition of the song will have you longing for a road trip to the Golden State. The beauty of watching bluegrass bands like the Dave Rawlings Machine is to enjoy the pure talent of all musicians involved. Rawlings’ connections within the music industry and his band’s simple yet arousing folky sound will definitely to lead to more success of the ‘Machine’ in the future.