Got to see Mr. Frankenreiter for the second time this year. From a back-stage balcony. For the right price (see post title). The venue was different, but the show didn't do all that much to distinguish itself from the New Year's Day show I caught earlier this year (see my Mog Blog #19).

The biggest difference for the new show was the addition of extra band members in order to play the traditional Hawaiian instruments that were necessary to recreate songs from Dono's new album (aptly titled 'Revisited') of old songs (from his eponymous debut) played in the style of Don Ho (hence the need for additional instruments/musicians).

While I think this treatment is great to listen to at a luau, or while lounging in the back yard on a lazy summer afternoon with a tall drink in hand, the intricacy and delicacy of the reinterpreted songs was a bit lost amongst an outdoor small amphitheater crowd. I did get to catch sound-check, and they sounded great then... just somehow lost some magic with the lights and the crowd.

Otherwise, the show was again excellent and Donavon continues to grow as a band leader, while the entire of groove of his band continues to tighten up around his leadership. He and his band have made the transition well from surfer-musicians to musician-surfers.

I attended with mostly Donavon F. neophytes (thanks again for hosting me, Mike!!!), and I'm happy to report that the show managed to convert them into fans by the end of the night. The rousing segue into the southern rock classic 'Simple Man' brought the house down by the end of the night.

All told, the combination of great outdoor venue (Jannus is a seriously great place to see a show, glad to see it re-opened), good tunes, and great location (can never argue with backstage), made for a really good evening. Even if it probably was too soon to catch the Dono show again.