Slide

Live Review
Slide CD Release - Pulling Teeth
TT The Bear's Place, Cambridge MA
October 2, 1999

Speaking of musical aptitude, Slide took the stage at midnight with a charming lack of any self-important pop or circumstance. No fanfare, no balloons, no inflated introduction -- only a subtle lowering of the lights to enhance the effect of the tiny white lights onstage, transforming the packed room into an intimate setting. The crowd grew quiet as Suzi Lee's accordion inhaled once, and then breathed organic life into the opener, "Shine."

Slide played a long satisfying set packed with old and new favorites, taking requests from the clamoring audience. Frontman Shaun Wolf Wortis invited so many guest musicians to the stage that I hope I kept them all straight: Joe Stump and Rich Gilbert grabbed guitars for the beautiful ballad "San Francisco" and for "PDM Baker." Ducky Carlisle and Joel Simches provided additional drums, one on each side of the stage like rhythmic bookends during the roof-raising "Gamma Ray." Charlie Chesterman belted out a song, snappy in a red vest and chinos (he announced that he'd just dropped in from attending a wedding), and so did Jeff Mellin (ex-The Eddies).

High points go to the eerie "Mobile Home" and the quietly gorgeous "Like This, I Am." But nothing could compare to the encore. If you haven't heard "Save Me" yet, get a copy of Pulling Teeth. This song falls into the so-pretty-it-hurts category. What a wonderful way to end a very special night.

(Review originally appeared in The Noise, Issue 196, November 1999)