Cass McCombs – Live

Folk, rock, psychedelia, and country are just some of the influences that can be heard in the American artist Cass McCombs’ music, but by far the most prevailing attribute is soul – pure, deep, rugged western soul. Cass came to Signal Kitchen during the annual Burlington festival South End Art Hop to share some of his music with us before releasing his latest album Big Wheel and Others.

His style is nonchalant, almost laid-back – but rest assured that beyond the unassuming surface lies a cavern of sensitivity and expressiveness. His introspection overpowered our venue in a way that made the relationship between audience and performer feel more like a conversation than an event. From slow, sweeping crooning to intimate falsetto expressions, Cass’s vocals adorned his straight-forward yet impactful guitar accompaniment as he captured each listener’s attention with his enigmatic yet charismatic presence. Cass has shown that flash and spectacle are only secondary to emotional honesty and vulnerability.