Damn, they didn't invite me....

As a big, Big Al Anderson fan, I was excited/disappointed to read Hartford Courant music critic Eric Danton's report of the former Wildweed/NRBQ guitarist/vocalist's impromptu performance at Sully's Pub in Hartford on Friday night. I was available.

Big Al at Sully's by Eric Danton It was supposed to have been a quick, impromptu set of ballads, but Big Al Anderson played a full-on concert Friday night at Sully's Pub in Hartford. Al and guitarist Jim Chapdelaine did 20 tunes for what was pretty much a spur-of-the-moment thing. Anderson, in town to help his friend and band member Chapdelaine promote a new piece of legislation intended to benefit the arts in Connecticut, called Chap Thursday night at 10:30 and suggested they find a gig for Friday. Voila: Sully's.

Big Al rarely performs live anymore, in Connecticut or anywhere, so the show tonight was an incredible treat. Hearing him play so many songs also showed the depth and breadth of his ability as a songwriter and, not incidentally, a guitarist. He did a few NRBQ numbers, including "Ridin' In My Car," and also played his first-ever hit, the Wildweeds' "No Good To Cry." Chapdelaine sang a few songs by his old band, Mr. Right, including the grim "Family Tradition." But my favorite song of the night was Anderson's "Another Place I Don't Belong," a contemplative song that sounded even more so played on acoustic guitar.

He also played a new tune, a devastating, sad country ballad that I didn't catch the title of. Balanced with a few bawdy numbers, including one packed with double entendre about whether size matters (he and Tim Nichols wrote it for Toby Keith, "who didn't have the balls to record it," Al said) and the wry NRBQ number "It Was a Accident," the show felt more like a well-paced, well-planned concert than a quick and dirty diversion for a Friday night. Eric Danton's blog