Shelby Lynne and Findlay Brown at Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis (05/01/10)

with Findlay Solo

Shelby Lynne and Findlay Brown stopped by the intimate Dakota Jazz Club last night. As previously mentioned, this is more of a dining experience than a concert venue. Unfortunately, depending on the limited seating arrangement, it can be hard to get a good view of the tiny, tiny stage.

I was mostly there to see Findlay Brown, the setting and acoustic from the seemingly shy Brown was not what I was expecting of this former-bare knuckle boxer. If you were expecting a full orchestra assembly, as per the David Letterman appearance, you may be disappointed with this quieter performance. The man is handsome, with his rockabilly look and tall stature reminds me a lot of a younger Morrissey.

Still, Brown carries his songs, however brief, with style. Most of the songs were from the Bernard Butler-produced album, Love Will Find You (out on Verve Records) so it carries a certain classic 50s feel to them – only done in an acoustic sound.

I am actually really glad to have caught him on this tour, as I’m certain he’ll come back around again, but with a more muscular backing band.

Shelby Lynne needs no introduction, although I found out that she’s been releasing music since 1989. She’s been in the music game for a long time.

She’s also quite petite than what I’ve expected. She seems like a really friendly gal, but at some point, during “Buttons and Beaus”, it was a little shocking to hear her sing “Your mama’s a whore, your daddy’s dead“.

As for her encore, which are not listed on the setlist, she ended her show with “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”, a little Dusty Springfield gem, from her all-Dusty album, Just A Little Lovin’.

Shelby Lynn – Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis 5-1-2010

Findlay Brown