Just Joshing A-Rouse

If you went to Neumo's on Friday and already loved Josh Rouse's music, you had a great time. If you went and did not love his music, he did not win you over.

John Roderick (of The Long Winters) opened the show nicely with an intimate set. He made it feel like you were sitting in your living room with an old friend and having him play your favorite songs.

Then Josh Rouse started to play with a high level of emotional intensity that may have alienated those who didn't already know and love his music. In an apparent attempt to recreate the movie Titanic on stage, he brought out a string quartet. Despite making the stage look like an episode of Big Love, the four young girls played well. Unfortunately, the arrangement for each song sounded similar and limited the dynamics of the show as a whole.

The show only really picked up after it ended. In the three encore songs, he started performing for the crowd instead of simply singing. He even brought his girlfriend on stage to join him in the popular Subtitulo track "The Man Who Doesn't Know How to Smile."

If you were at the show, you had a good time and were glad you went. If you didn't go to the show, you are probably glad you didn't.