On Saturday, June 26th, Spaghetti Western String Company had a CD release & farewell party at the Cedar Cultural Center. SWSC have been making music for seven years now and their mixture of strings, the clarinet, and haunting vocals will ensnare you. It's perfect bath music - on cold winter nights, you come home, draw a hot bath, put on SWSC, and lose yourself in the world their music creates. How could anyone not love this band?
SWSC’s music is best described as atmospheric – not only in the tub, but also live. The stage resembled a music shop – guitar, clarinet, saxophone, cello, banjo, and mandolin crowded around more microphones than one could count – and then there was the ensemble cast. Michael Rosetto, Nicholas Lemme, Paul Fonfara, and Ethan Sutton work together seamlessly, communicating through glances and subtle signals while never losing a beat. Denise Guelker, a founding member, brought her violin on stage to perform older, much-loved pieces in the band’s repertoire. Recently returned local artist Haley Bonar showed up to perform a song that will be on her upcoming new album. They played several songs from the new album, Farewell Verse. Without doubt, though, the high points were when Nicholas Lemme sang. Combined with the string & clarinet, it’s as though the world falls away and you just breathe music. Lemme leaves for Nebraska soon and the Cities will be poorer for it.
For their big finale, Haley came back onstage, alongside Peter Pisano from Peter Wolf Crier and many, many beach balls. The band went out performing Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" while beach balls bounced around the crowd. It was one of those magical moments – and a great parting note. SWSC, you will be missed.
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