A few years ago I had a big birthday bash in the countryside with a number of friends, most of whom had not spent much time outside of Budapest. I remember sitting around the campfire with them one night, and my friends just oggling the stars, heads tipped back, mouths open and beers temporarily forgotten. A similar situation took place at Thursday night's concert double bill at Treehugger Dan's with these country stars. It was surely one of the best concerts this year, featuring Emily Weedon with opening act Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins. Not only was the music fantastic, but so was the lighting - kindly provided by 9 year old Vajk Dobos. Lighting and lighting design are Vajk's hobby, and the musicians kindly gave him his first professional gig. I was expecting some nice strings of white Christmas lights or something. Instead, Vajk came with a car full of theatrical lights, and even a smoke machine! His dad Istvan aczted as his roadie. He did such a good job that a couple musicians in the audience asked him to work at their next gig! The stAlso age set up was also a bit different for this gig, as we created a theater in the round.

Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins performed the opening set. A fixture on the Budapest music scene for almost 9 years. Mookie's music is a blend of americana, country, rock and even a dash of soul. The acoustic set  focused on the new album "Love, Truth and Other Myths" which I reviewed a couple weeks ago here. The band clearly were having a great time on stage, and this drew the audience in. I do not know who had a bigger shit-eating grin on their face, Greg, Marco or Vajk.  I especially enjoyed "Helpless" (with Emily), "Been in Arrears" and "Love, Truth and Other Myths." The new Second Cousins' lineup now consists of:

I met Emily Weedon a few months ago when she and her daughter Ginger came into the Lazar u. shop. During a long chat I discovered she used to give regular concerts in Canada before her daughter was born three years ago. Although she insists I twisted her arm, it honestly did not take too much convincing to get her to come out of retirement. Emily Weedon hails from Toronto, Canada - a town with deep roots in cow punk, country, blues, rock and "Canadiana". Emily cut her teeth playing shows all over the Toronto area with her band as well as Texas, England and Egypt. She brought her personal mix of high lonesome meets down and dirty gin joint. There were 2- steps, hurtin' waltzes and cheeky innuendos. I especially enjoyed "Helpless" (with Mookie), Dolly Parton's "Jolene," "Clark St," and "C'mon Up." I was standing next to Fiona, who had ants in her pants to go grab her fiddle and join in but was unfortunately blocked by the capacity crowd. Several people compared Emily's voice to Dolly Parton. She does indeed have a great voice, charisma and stage presence, and I hope she is able to continue with her music back in Canada now that I have "dragged her kicking and screaming out of retirement" ;-)

Please check her out on iTunes

Emily's Set List:
"Wait for me Jesus"  - a waltz about an unrepentant sinner
Dolly Parton's "Jolene"
"Rose Island Road" - a song about where she grew up in cut time
"The Killing Frost" - a weepy little pathetic phallacy
"Same Old Place" - about her residency at a bar where the bar tender was frequently the only "audient" member
"Clark St" - a sassy waltz about not getting laid
"C'mon Up" - a rocky number about feeding friends in times of trouble
 "On His Sleeve" - waltz ballad
 "Boxcar Lullabye" - a snappy two step about her train ride to Texas

Mookie Brando's Set List:
This Temptation
All Boxed In
Angel Tonight
Make That Bet
Had Enough
Best I Can
Ruby Tuesday
Helpless (with Emily)
Been in Arrears
Come to Me
Shine a Light
Want it Back
Shakin' in the Middle of the Night
Love, Truth and Other Myths
To Love Somebody