There was no uproar as Kentucky native Sam Bush and his accompanying trio took the stage of Finney Chapel Saturday night. Instead, the crowd, a mixture of middle-aged balding men and enthusiastic college students, showed their appreciation in applause and attentiveness.
Bush played his eclectic mix of bluegrass, country and rock ‘n’ roll to a devoted crowd. Clad in a Cleveland Indians T-shirt with his yellowish, curly hair flowing, Bush led the songs with his electric mandolin and fiddle accompanied by bass and acoustic guitar.
Bush showed that his 50 years had not slowed him down as a performer when he ripped into nearly three hours of songs. However, the performance slowed and got less interesting toward the end.
Bush started his show by introducing the audience to his sound with the folksy-rock instrumental “Majestic.” He then greeted the crowd with “Good evening, music lovers” and commented on the first and only other time he had played at Oberlin in 1975. His next number paid homage to “those of us from small towns,” in particular Iowans, saying that “if you’re from Iowa, you’re from a small town.” Next he ripped into Jeff Black’s “They’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone,” complete with roaring mandolin solos. His following number, “Mr. Freddie,” also showcased his instrumental skills as he played variations around a simple melody to great effect.
The evening was intimate and offered plenty of humor. Bush allowed the acoustic guitarist to perform his Ross Perot impersonation. Although this talent showcase got tiresome, it was only a brief interlude in a great evening of music.
Bush’s fiddle playing was praise-worthy. His intense playing was electrifying on “Ain’t No Trouble to Me” and “If I Had Me a Fiddle.” Still, the highlights (for the more rock inclined) came from Bush’s electric mandolin and his miniature electric guitar, which he played wonderfully on “Rub My Brain.”
Bush also took the stage by himself for a while, playing a soulful version of Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country” that may have brought a tear to the eye of Bush himself. This seemed to heighten the hippie exuberance already present in the air and many were struck with the impulse to dance in the aisles — a remarkable achievement for a Finney show. Overall, the evening was wonderful and I left with a newfound appreciation for bluegrass and the musical tastes of my parents’ generation.