Today’s happily blurring lines between cabaret and folk music occur in no small part due to singer/songwriter Chiristine Lavin, who regaled the crowd at Andrea Marcovicci’s Town Hall Birthday do. Further, in the lovely space in Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, Lavin eschewed her practical cottons for a lacy cabaret-worthy top. While Lavin’s guest-stuffed shows may run too long, sit through them for the reward of her bell-like voice, honest heart, and ample wit. Lavin classics still resonate. In the new male perspective verse to “Good Thing S/He Can’t Read My Mind,” the guy smiles politely, but dishonestly through craft fairs and chick flicks. The new Palin-bashing ending of “What Was He/I Thinking” is a hoot (as are verses about hunting with Cheney and Prince Harry’s Nazi costume.) "Not Me, Not Me, Not Me," about the downside of exercise rings hilarious and true. Lavin was preceded by Don White. Singer/comedian White is funny and sometimes tender but rambly over a full hour. Lavin calls up audience males for “Sensitive New Age Guys” but keeps them fidgeting onstage too long. Guest artists singing about Pluto bombed comedically. So, order a double helping of Lavin Spoonful, but easy on the sides, please.

Carla Gordon
Cabaret Scenes
June 19, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org