Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey
July 18, 2009
Café Du Nord
By Wade Grubbs
Better Than: Just sitting around at home listening to the new record.
Saturday night, Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey entertained a small but enthusiastic audience at the Café Du Nord. The pair were founding members and primary songwriters of the dB's, the tuneful power-pop quartet from North Carolina who were a critical if not commercial success in the post-punk 1970s and '80s. They are touring small venues throughout the U.S. to support their latest release, the self-produced and recorded hERE aND nOW, their first collaboration since 1991's Mavericks.
I'm such a big fan of this pair's music that if I heard they were busking nearby, I would call in sick from work and toss quarters in their guitar cases all day. The casual intimacy of this show wasn't too far removed from that atmosphere, although the two did employ a set list. The Du Nord was arranged with tables and chairs on the floor, which contributed to the relaxed living-room feel of the show. It's evident from their friendly rapport that Holsapple and Stamey are old friends and, like much of the audience, now proper grown-ups who are comfortable in their own skin. One thing that hasn't changed about them (or perhaps has improved) is their rich harmony vocals.
