Piano (and Acoustic, Songwriting, and Singing) Man
Phil Whitman is an act to watch.
Joe Bass
Issue date: 3/31/03 Section: music
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To view the slideshow of Phil and his band at the performance, click here. Sorry they're so dark, but flashes tend to disturb performers.
The Bongo Java After Hours Theatre is a small space no bigger than an attic. And that's probably because it is an attic, accessible by a tall, narrow staircase in the center of the converted house on Belmont Blvd. where Bongo Java conducts it's business.
I met some friends there who had told me about this guy whom they had seen perform in L.A. His name was Phil Whitman, and I had to see him, they told me. He was going to be popular, once established. I was happy to go, as I like a good show and also like to give public recognition to local acts making good. But it wasn't until I got there that I learned that there would be an added bonus: Phil had a band with him. And it was the band that took the show from being a guy with his guitar and piano in front of a coffee house crowd to being an honest to God show.
Don't get the wrong impression; Phil is extremely talented, and from what I have heard from others who have seen him solo, the show is equally impressive. In fact, we were given a preview of that with several songs that Phil performed solo on his acoustic. However, the show I saw on July 16th was a group effort. At that time, the band had only practiced together once, though from their sound, it must have been a hell of a rehearsal.
Phil sat at the piano and sang lead vocals, with bassist Trevor Delling, stand-in drummer Daniel Hadaway (replacing the unable to attend Matt Murphy), and guitar player Brian Crawford. They gelled remarkably well for a group without much practice playing as a group, with much credit going to Phil's piano for being the center of many of their songs.
Their sound is a nice mixture, with some songs having a sweet, near-pop ring while others have an almost prog sound, reminding me sometimes of songs from Floyd's "Animals." Crawford's guitar effects really help this, with just the right amount thrown in to add nicely to Phil's piano carrying the melody.
The Bongo Java After Hours Theatre is a small space no bigger than an attic. And that's probably because it is an attic, accessible by a tall, narrow staircase in the center of the converted house on Belmont Blvd. where Bongo Java conducts it's business.
I met some friends there who had told me about this guy whom they had seen perform in L.A. His name was Phil Whitman, and I had to see him, they told me. He was going to be popular, once established. I was happy to go, as I like a good show and also like to give public recognition to local acts making good. But it wasn't until I got there that I learned that there would be an added bonus: Phil had a band with him. And it was the band that took the show from being a guy with his guitar and piano in front of a coffee house crowd to being an honest to God show.
Don't get the wrong impression; Phil is extremely talented, and from what I have heard from others who have seen him solo, the show is equally impressive. In fact, we were given a preview of that with several songs that Phil performed solo on his acoustic. However, the show I saw on July 16th was a group effort. At that time, the band had only practiced together once, though from their sound, it must have been a hell of a rehearsal.
Phil sat at the piano and sang lead vocals, with bassist Trevor Delling, stand-in drummer Daniel Hadaway (replacing the unable to attend Matt Murphy), and guitar player Brian Crawford. They gelled remarkably well for a group without much practice playing as a group, with much credit going to Phil's piano for being the center of many of their songs.
Their sound is a nice mixture, with some songs having a sweet, near-pop ring while others have an almost prog sound, reminding me sometimes of songs from Floyd's "Animals." Crawford's guitar effects really help this, with just the right amount thrown in to add nicely to Phil's piano carrying the melody.