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JOHN SOLINSKI & KEN KARLHEIM @ THE HITCHING POST, ALTOONA 9/23/04 I decided to start off this weekend by heading to Altoona’s Hitching Post and seeing what was up with that acoustic dynamic duo, John Solinski and Ken Karlheim. A decent-sized crowd was populating the Hitching Post as I arrived. This was cool to see, given the light attendance this duo had seen at previous Hitching Post shows. John and Kenny were into The Proclaimers’ "500 Miles" as I located a vacant seat and staked claim to it. The two musicians were segueing through a series of tunes, and proceeded through the Beatles’ "I Saw Her Standing There," the Monkees’ "I’m A Believer," Neil Diamond’s "Sweet Caroline" and Chuck Berry’s "Johnny B. Goode," during which the duo duck-walked back and forth across the stage area with their guitars. This prompted some festive ladies seated at the table in front of me (along the wall) to step up atop their chairs and dance. The song medley continued with the Beatles’ "Get Back" and Chuck Berry’s "My Ding-a-Ling," with the female chair-top dancers and musicians feeding off each other’s craziness. The medley then shifted into Billy Ray Cyrus’ "Achy Breaky Heart," before reprising "My Ding-a-Ling" to finish. John and Kenny then sent out Garth Brooks’ "Friends In Low Places" to Hitching Post kitchen matriarch "Mom," before prompting the chair-top dancers back into action with Ozzy Osbourne’s "Crazy Train" - yes, done ACOUSTIC! The party continued with tunes from John Mellencamp, Violent Femmes, Journey, Styx and Creedence Clearwater Revival, before reaching its crescendo with an audience request for Don McLean’s "American Pie." As John and Kenny sang this ode to ‘the day the music died,’ ladies throughout the Hitching Post could be seen dancing and grooving along. At various points along the way, the group would pause the song - like a tape player - so John could coach the dancers and audience, ask questions, throw in funny quips and more. Still not finished having fun, the Hitching Post revelers demanded more music, and John and Kenny responded with Dobie Gray’s "Drift Away" and the Ramones’ "I Wanna Be Sedated" - yes, ACOUSTIC - to finish the night. This show was a very good time. It was one of those ideal nights when performers and audience were connecting, and the resulting synergy lifted the evening above and beyond. John and Kenny were skillful as always, combining stellar guitar abilities with smooth vocals and harmonies, and their own brand of lighthearted fun and craziness. Mix in the receptive and busy Hitching Post audience, and the ladies dancing on the chairs, and it was a party! The only disappointment of the night was learning that Kenny would be stepping away from performing in the near future to settle down. This duo had evolved into one of the most enjoyable acoustic entities playing the local circuit; it would be a shame to see them split up. John was pondering several post-duo career options; the next few months will reveal if John will stick around this area or follow his muse elsewhere. |
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