Alana Amram & The Rough Gems

TIMEOUT NY SAYS: Local songwriter Alana Amram—daughter of Beat music icon David Amram—plays graceful, intelligent country-pop. She’s got a clear, arresting voice and a gift for quirky romantic imagery. LIMEWIRE.COM SAYS: http://blog.limewire.com/posts/752-Show-Review-Alana-Amram-t he-Rough-Gems-Glasslands%22 Show Review: Alana Amram & the Rough Gems @ Glasslands By Jens Carstensen Posted on Nov 8,2007Wednesday, November 7th - Alana Amram & the Rough Gems, w/ The New York Howl and Puddin' Tang, Glasslands Gallery, BrooklynWhether the blame lies with modern Nashville, or modern hicksters, or both, it's hard not to be instantly suspicious at the mention of a good country act. But last night, i saw a great one.Alana Amram & the Rough Gems are the real deal. Wednesday night's festivities at the Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn saw the release of Amram's eponymous 5-song EP, and a performance that was among the best i've seen all year, by anyone. Refreshingly pro, while still retaining every amount of showmanship, good looks, quirks and energy expected of acts in Brooklyn, Alana Amram confidently led her 6-piece band through a roughly 14 song set, while her audience - packed with old guard New York rockers - danced during the up-tempo numbers and hung on every note of the quieter songs.Amram is an effortlessly captivating performer, with a beautiful, affectation-free voice. In addition, her material is so straightforward, heartfelt, and lived-in, it's almost astonishing that her songs – primarily self-penned - haven't already existed for decades. Everything she writes and plays would not sound out of place in a classic country comp, in the background of a Dolly Parton biopic or coming out of a dusty Waffle House juke box. All this as she cleanly avoids every dopey country music trope, and every opportunity to pander.But, it doesn't stop there. The Rough Gems - a rotating squad of accompanists of all backgrounds - are a talented outfit that plays both loose and on-point with the material, highlighted by Philip "The Geode" Sterk, a sublime pedal steel player who clearly knew his stuff. He alone was worth more than the price of admission ($5 cheep in this case), let alone in tandem with Amram.It was a family affair too; great news for those in attendance, considering Amram's lineage. Not only was her sister Adira a pitch-perfect compliment as harmony vocalist (as tends to be the case with siblings), her father David, a revered beat-era composer most notably responsible for the soundtrack to the original Manchurian Candidate, took some deft solos on the tin whistle. Or in some cases, two simultaneously, Roland-Kirk style. One of many astonishing unexpected twists from a group that hardly need one to make an impact.And, is there a better place to see a local show right now than Glasslands? The sound, the decor, the feel, the cheap drinks and admission. Together enough to act as a real venue, loose enough to never feel like one, colorful but obscure, it was the perfect place – and the perfect audience - for Amram to showcase her work. The show was bookended by the Stones-y Puddin' Tang (featuring ex- members of the Witnesses, for those of you scoring at home) and the frenetic cabaret-rock of New York Howl, who closed out the show with a bang. Which makes sense, as they feature an Amram of their own: Alana's brother Adam on drums. Talented family, that bunch.Sample "Miss You" or "Painted Lady" on Amram's myspace page. If you aren't sold, there's no hope for you.Created with mySpace Profile Editor