01 July 2024

Tom Freund and Friends | Hotel Utah , San Francisco | 06.30.24

ARTICLE CONTRIBUTED BY GABRIEL DAVID BARKIN | PUBLISHED ON July 1, 2024

Tom Freund

Tom Freund brought several of his friends to The Hotel Utah Saloon on Sunday night. Some of his friends even joined him on stage – notably drummer/percussionist Wally Ingram, who accompanied Freund for the entirety of his 90-minute set. Other friends enjoyed an evening comprised of both poignant and lighthearted songs, including originals from Freund’s long career and some fun covers.

Tom Freund

Freund began his recording career as the musical partner of then-unknown Ben Harper in 1992. After a few years as a duo, each forged their own show business career path. In addition to his own solo recordings over the past few decades, Freund has toured as a band member backing performers including Graham Parker and Brett Dennen. He has also collaborated with Jackson Brown, Wilco, and a host of others. Harper has remained in Freund’s orbit too, inviting his old mate to open tour dates from time to time and producing Freund’s album Collapsible Plans in 2008.

Intro by Pam

For the uninitiated (which included me, until Sunday night): Freund’s voice is similar at times to Wilco’s Jeff Tweety, and his soul, if not his timbre, combines the essences of both Earles (father Steve and son Justin) and Jack Johnson. An even closer fit for comparison might be Steve Poltz. In fact, I’m not sure Freund and Poltz should ever be allowed to perform together; the irony and effervescent wryness might be overwhelming.

Wally Ingram

On record, Freund sounds as if he’d be just as comfortable playing in a coffee shop (likely he’s spent many, many hours doing just that) as he would on a big stage. On Sunday night, he was relaxed and confident on the small stage, even despite some polite chatter among his friends in the audience during his set. He noted the irony: “It’s good to be back at the Hotel Utah. We talk. You talk.”

Mad Johnny with Wally Ingram and Tom Freund

After a fun opening set by John “Mad Johnny” Modell, Freund took the stage with Ingram backing him on a small trap set outfitted with multiple percussive toys. They kicked it off with “Collapsible Plans (Sugar),” Freund strumming an acoustic guitar to the apt closing refrain, “I been at this thing a long, long time.”

Wally Ingram

Indeed, he has been doing this thing for a while. And with that experience in tow, Freund is equally adept on guitar, double bass, ukulele, and piano. He demonstrated this versatility throughout the evening. On bass, he sang “Digs” (“If you don’t like these digs you can find someplace else”). He played uke on “Here Comes the Sun,” inviting his friendly audience to sing along. He sat at an upright piano facing the side wall of the stage for a few old-school Tom Wait’sy songs. He even blew (for lack of a better description) a “lip trumpet” solo on “Truly Mellow.”

Tom Freund

Drummer Wally Ingram was a very good friend! His accompaniment was restrained during the mellow stuff, and he led the charge when the rhythm was a more vital part of a song’s vibe. For instance, his calypso/ reggae beat on Freund’s take on Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door” gave that FM radio classic a distinctive lilt a la Jimmy Buffet or Jack Johnson.

Wally Ingram

Other friends came on stage too. While Freund thumped his upright bass during “Cakewalk Into Town,” harmonica player JeConte shredded a solo and opening act John “Mad Johnny” Modell added some blues licks on acoustic guitar. Both friends returned later for “Revolution.”

Tom Freund

Other covers were crowd-pleasers. Freund introduced the Grateful Dead’s “Brown-Eyed Women” saying, “I think you guys will know this one because you’re from here.” And sure enough, several dancers twirled for that one. Shortly after, he prefaced Billy Joel’s “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” by declaring, “I’m in a campaign lately to make Billy Joel cool again.” (A friendly heckler replied, “I’m not sure Billy’s on board with that.”)