Dennis Welch and friends at Ovations

Shirley and I saw Dennis Welch and a small group of friends play at Ovations last Sunday night. We came in late, but saw a nice bit of the set. Really enjoyed it. It's folk, but there was some nice lead in there and some rocking parts. But folk it was, nonetheless.

The players were: Dennis on guitar and lead vocals, I can't remember the guy's name to his right on bass and acoustic guitar (sorry!), Chris Whittington on acoustic guitar, Kemper Crabb on mandolin, and Dave Marshall on acoustic and electric guitar. Dennis' talk between the songs was interesting and thought-provoking.

I have known Kemper and Dave for many years, and became aquainted with Dennis back in the 80's when he did rock. A former roommate of mine and fellow church member was Dennis' keyboard player for awhile back then "in the day". I remember a great rocking set one Friday or Saturday night at Rockefeller's. It was great to see Dave again -- hadn't seen him in several years. Dave is a Reformed Episcopal deacon and does the music at his church. Really enjoyed his bluesy, rockin' leads. Kemper does the music at the 11:05 Contemporary Eucharist at St. John the Divine here in Houston, where we attend. Kemper and Dave headed up the pioneer band ArkAngel back in the 70's, which evolved into the band Radiohalo in the 80's. Chris has played with Kemper and Dave for many years, and does the music with Kemper on Sunday mornings at St. John the Divine.

Really enjoyed the evening. I like Dennis' stuff. Ovations is a nice little club in the Rice Village. Last time I was there was in the 90's and saw a nice little jazz band called Moons of Jupiter that Kemper and Dave played in.


love good music,
br. francis