The Royal Room’s ambitious Great Records of 1969 series attains a peak with this night dedicated to British folk-rock genius Nick Drake’s debut LP, Five Leaves Left.
Essentially, Drake was a soul man and a love poet of utmost understatement. The album’s 10 songs amble into earshot, mollycoddle your tenderest feelings, and ice your brain with gentlest melodic beauty and hushed vocal delicacy. For this show, Darren Loucas will lead a band through Five Leaves’ subliminally jazzy folk balladry, leading us on the way to blue. Bring a hanky. One last thing: All evidence points to Nick Drake having died a virgin at age 26 from an antidepressant overdose, yet his music has helped countless people to get laid. Bittersweet irony.
Tonight’s show starts at 8 pm; tickets are $15 here, $20 at the door. Some choice cuts off Five Leaves Left below, plus some commentary from the album’s producer, Joe Boyd.
