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March 19th, 2007 @ Bongo Java, Upstairs—Luke Doucet Doucet Blazes New Trail Luke Doucet continues to blaze a new trail here in Nashville. Monday night, fresh from Austin's SXSW festival, Doucet performed an intimate short set for puremusic.com's filmed concert series of some of Nashville's best singer/songwriters at Bongo Java After Hours. In this atypical setting of bright television camera lights, and audience seating that is packed tightly close to the stage, Doucet appeared as comfortable as he might be if he were performing in his own living room. Doucet's normally high-volume surf-a-billy Bigsby-heavy chicken pickin' was turned down, delicate, and precise—providing an ambient rock-a-billy background for his confessional melancholy lyrics from his latest release Broken. Doucet's Monday night performance was an opportunity for fans to witness Doucet in a rare intimate setting—the kind that forces artists to step out of their usual mold. Some artists resist these challenges, and some thrive on them. Doucet not only thrives in such situations, his ability to control the room while simultaneously experimenting with impromptu guitar riffs and vocal inflections left the audience members stupefied. Doucet ended the set with a stompin'bluesy acoustic version of "Keep Her Away From Me" that showcased not only Doucet's 50's era Stella guitar but also his ability to play it like an accomplished elder bluesman. Doucet surprisingly looped his fingerstyle stompin' blues rhythm and began pickin' as if he'd been possessed by Robert Johnson himself. Then, having looped at least two perfectly fused blues riffs, layed the guitar down, picked up a harmonica and just plain tore it up. Doucet proved in this intimate setting that he can (and will) continue to push the boundaries and expand his musical horizons. He is now publicly talking about his desire to make a new record. We will all be anxiously awaiting. But in the meantime, catch Doucet performing live if you know what's good for you.
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