Eddie From Ohio – Boulder – The Boulder Theater, CO – 1999-09-08

Eddie From Ohio…ever hear of them? Probably not. EFO is a small folk-rock band out of Northern Virginia, my most recent home. This band plays a style of music that I liked hearing described as “new-folk-calypso-rock.” Yep, it’s got everything. And, oddly enough, they were playing in Colorado. I used to see them play every Tuesday at Bad Habits Grill in Arlington. Now they’re touring the country. Good for them!

EFO put on a great 2-hour show, playing a majority of their songs from their new album but fitting in enough old songs to please the crowd, who were obviously well familiar with this charistmatic band. Some highlights were “The Fifth of July,” “Eddie and the Concubine,” and Eddie’s most amazing drum solo. You have to see this man play the bongos to believe him. And when he set off playing Robbie’s guitar with his hands, making the most melodic drumming sounds I’ve ever heard, the crowd was stunned to silence. That could be a show in itself.

EFO’s best features are their ability to harmonize. Sometimes all four band members would sing together, sometimes complimenting each other by singing different lines. And when they sing without instrumentation, as on lead Julie Murphy’s gospel hit, they are amazing to say the least. What a great band. See them in your town when you get the chance if you at all like rock, folk, gospel, or music at all.